“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
There are so many people who are looking for a magic genie. People think that just asking God for “anything”, they deserve to get it, as asked for, because of this verse. They completely overlook the factors of God’s Will and the depth of what a true belief includes in the act of prayer. God’s Will is ALWAYS superior when it comes to who’s will takes precedence, especially when the other will is ours. And the depth of belief will be very apparent when actions follow that belief. One thing I remember hearing over and over again from Dr. Jerry Glisson is, “Act like it’s so even when it’s not so, so that when it becomes so it will be so!” All that translates into: Walk by faith just like it’s already happened!
Has there ever been a time in your life where you asked God in prayer for something that didn’t come about in your life? Where you disappointed? Did you lose some of your faith in God as a result?
We often think in our minds that the lack of an answer to a sincere prayer that we prayed has it’s fault in God’s hands when in reality we were the ones not willing to accept God’s Will over our will or we had a lack of true faith.
We must realize, like the disciples that Jesus is saying in this verse that if you have a word from God or a discerning spirit about what to do and you pray with a faith that you fully believe in, you shall have a positive answer to your prayer. You must be a Christian who is living day by day in a consistent close relationship with God. A relationship where you can see God’s Will being lived out, first in your heart and also in your mind. I’m reminded of another verse in scripture that says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
If we find ourselves wanting what God want in our lives for us and we trust God with our whole heart and mind then we’ll begin to see how God makes things happen in our daily lives. He is NOT a magic genie but He IS the Lord God Almighty. I’d rather have God than a genie, wouldn’t you?
James 5:16 states, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Our righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone because we could never be righteous enough. When we are following the verse in James, confessing our sins and in a right relationship with God, who knows what God can do in and through us? We’ll definitely see things begin to happen that will bring honor and glory to God! I challenge you to pray believing for God to work mightily in your life and in our church today!
- Pray for Our Pastors and leadership at Leawood
- Pray for Our Sunday School Teachers and Deacons
- Pray for Each other and the Body of Christ that makes up Leawood Baptist Church