by Rex Rouis
The overriding issue in prayer is whether or not the prayer is spoken in faith. If you do not have faith then all the praying in the world won’t help you (unless perhaps you call upon the mercy of God).
The single active ingredient in prayer is faith. If faith is there, chances are real good that the prayer will be correct, or at least close enough. Its not the words necessarily but the release of faith that will bring the desired answer.
Whatever words you say, make sure you believe them, and you will have them. The Bible is real clear in that the words you say must not differ with what you are believing in your heart.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt (differ, disagree, ‘strife with oneself’) in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23
The words must be living, fresh, and from your heart, not from some prayer book. The Bible is based on a system of living words. God speaks living words to us. We receive them into our heart and through continued diligence in love and the Spirit we allow faith to grow. The harvest of these living words is faith, and once we have it, then we release it through living words. The living words coming out of our mouth is called Prayer.
What about, ‘If it be thy will?’
Jesus said the words, ‘If it be thy will’ during one of His prayers. Much has been made of this. Throughout the Gospels, whenever Jesus prayed He always exhibited a clear understanding of God’s will. There was never a hint of uncertainty in any one of them. He prays once for direction and puts an ‘if’ in it and suddenly all types of prayer are thus affected. He is not praying to change the world; He is praying to seek the will of God. When Jesus uttered this phrase, He was in the process of seeking the will of God concerning His imminent passion. This was huge and He needed to know for an absolute surety that this is what God wanted and that there was no way around it. This was hard and He needed to know solidly from God. Everything depended on it. One must have their heart solid on the will of God before their faith can be real. There is no ‘if’ in faith once it has become a reality in the heart.
Faith begins where the will of God is known.
If faith is based on the known will of God, how can a prayer prayed in faith have an ‘if’ in it? We must assume that Jesus was ‘in faith’ when He prayed this prayer. The ‘if’ had nothing to do with whether the prayer would get answered, but it had everything to do with Him being open to what the answer would be. The ‘if’ was what He was believing for and seeking God for. He was in faith seeking the ‘if’ of His future. Seeking is all the about the ‘if’ of the future. Faith all about knowing the reality of the will of God on a specific issue. Again, Jesus knew that God would give Him the answer; He just didn’t know what the answer was going to be. That is seeking.
And without faith it is impossible to please {Him,} for he who comes to God must believe that He is and {that} He is a rewarder of those who (diligently) seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:11,13-14
When seeking the will of God you must believe that He exists, that He rewards diligent seeking, and that you will get an answer. When seeking the will of God, using the phrase, ‘if it be thy will,’ is appropriate. The phrase is otherwise never mentioned in prayer. If you need a mountain to move in your life, or you have a debilitating issue (like the woman with the issue of blood), inserting an ‘if’ in your prayer just won’t do. For all those situations, knowing the will of God from the word and from having previously sought His face is the only way. Faith begins where the will of God is known. Just throwing out the phrase ‘if it be thy will’ and taking whatever comes may sound good but it is not the faith exemplified in the Gospels. It is a false submission, a lazy submission. The only issue that Jesus looked at, and still looks at, is faith, and faith is based on a knowing in the heart, a reality heard from God. See the article – ‘If it be thy will’
There are three main categories of prayer:
- Seeking Prayer – Seeking God and finding His will – Knowing and believing that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. ‘If’s’ are appropriate in these prayers of seeking.
- Asking Prayer – Asking God in faith according to His will – Knowing and believing that He will answer.
- Declaring Prayer – Authoritative declaring of His will in faith – Knowing and believing that it will obey you. (One quick rule – this does not work on other people.)
We pray and seek God to find His will, and once we find it we pray and release His will (and its corresponding faith), into the world. Both ‘seeking prayer’ and ‘asking/declaring prayer’ are absolutely necessary to our walk of faith and obedience.
Comments
It’s never too late to come back to God. He loves you and desires you to call out to him . He will be there and give you a New start. Tell him you are sorry for the way you have done things and ask him to bring the change in your life that only he can. He loves you with an everlasting love. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Receive his love and forgiveness I pray and be healed and restored in Jesus name amen.
Hello everyone. Faith is something that u have to work towards every day of your life. I have been seeking Jesus for years to bless me more abundantly. First of all, I believe in Jesus as my Lord and savior. I believe him for things I cannot do, but expecting him to bring to pass. Be bold and remind him of who he is. Pray, talk, ask, and believe only in faith. Do not look at your current situation. It is merely a distraction to keep u bound. Many times I call on the name of Jesus and I pray honestly from my heart. I am honest about my feelings and thoughts good or bad. Continue to be bold. For example, I have been praying and seeking God. I reminded him of how he answered prayers in the past. I explain to him that I am totally dependent on him, not my husband, family, or friends. He wants us to believe and he will move on our behalf. Memorize scriptures so that you can speak his words back to him. Please pray for yourself. Believe in Jesus. Make prayers known and ask in faith only. If u are doubtful be honest so he can help you. God bless all believers. ( everyone )
I messed up and backslide a few years ago and now I want to come back and walk with the Lord the right way and not the wrong I have negative feelings going through me and my thoughts and I don’t like it . I really need prayer I even messes up my own relationship
I am 22 years old and 7 months pregnant with twins. My boyfriend left me as soon as i told him I was pregnant, he wanted me to terminate but I refused as immediately when I found out I was pregnant I fell in love with the 2 beautiful kids am carrying(I love them so much ).
It really hurts to go through this pregnancy alone, my heart is really broken. Every time I talk to him he says hurtful things to me and tells me never to contact him again. If there’s one thing I long for in this life more than anything else is peace. My heart is full of pain ,anger and hatred.
I am working but I am not earning much to take care of 2 kids alone, I try to pray to God to bless me with a good job but somehow I feel that God won’t answer my prayer. I have lost faith and hope because my life has been filled with pain.
I don’t want to raise my kids alone.
Please pray for me
Thuli – You will have to get your sights on God and God alone. He is very merciful and He will help you. You must work to get the bitterness and hatred out of your heart. Forget about the guy, he is gone. Good. Raise your kids with God. God will provide what you need and a new good man. This will be a lot of work but you will make it.
Spend time with God and talk to Him. But get the unforgiveness out as soon as you can. It will hurt you and your kids. It will block God love and hope. We love you and God love you. Rex
Hi Faith Mechanic,
Your posts on faith have been very eye-opening. A question came up in this post though regarding the rule “this does not work on other people.” Could you give an example of when this rule would come into play? I’m not sure what type of situation this would involve.
Thank you.
Please pray for me. I’m moving out of my grandparent’s house after 25 years (I’m 25). I’ve been sheltered my whole life, and honestly, I don’t know anything about anything and I’m going out of my mind with fear. I pray all the time and I ask the Lord to give me the strength to face this great change, and if whoever reads this could pray for me as well, I would very much appreciate it. Thank You
T – I will pray for you. God is on your side and will never leave you. It may not always obviously feel like He is there but He is, always. Read His word and speak to Him. Let Him talk to you. He will lead you step by step. You may not see the progress all the time but there will be moments when you will look back and see how truly far you have come. Read these articles and stories of faith. Let them seep into your heart. They will build you up and sustain you. I am so proud of you. You will be fine. I will pray for you. I love you, and God loves you.
This morning I was reading through prayer articles and I came across your words of encouragement and prayer- it touched my heart. I do not know who you are Faith Mechanic but God has given you wisdom and it seems you are God’s special angel here on earth to do His will. God bless you and your family and may you prosper in God’s Kingdom.
Shyam – Thank you so much for those gracious words, and thank you for your prayer. I believe the word of God will explode in your heart to produce blessings for you and those around you. Get His word into your heart and then release it into the world (around you) through prayer. Prayer is the verbal release of faith. Rex
I traveled to my home town in Nigeria to bury my mother in this month of August. However since I came back to my base. things have not been easy for me. I had a revelation that my uncle vowed that my son or I will die this year. He is also using my clients and friends to frustrate my business.
Please join me in prayers because I believe that since I have great servants of God like you and we belong to the most high God whose power supersede all other powers in the universe that every of his wicked plans concerning me will go back to him. Let every of the spiritual photograph they took me or any of my loved ones in order to use it against me be destroyed by fire of the holy ghost in Jesus name!! I also pray for financial increase in my business and for job placement for my wife job in Jesus name!!
Please pray for me. Since I became a Christian I have been in this spiritual fight. I have things moving in my body and I have members of the kingdom of darkness fighting me. Please pray for a breakthrough , pray for deliverance and that God will send me a deliverer
Please Pray for me i have stomach disease and i’m suffering and in pain right now.Please my friends i need your prayer.Help me God.
Ron I am in agreement with you. You are healed in Jesus name. Start boldly declaring the Word of God. Speak the scriptures Confession Healing and God’s Protection From Evil say these scriptures during the day. You can print the scriptures and carry them with you and say them to yourself. Remember without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
God bless you with good health.
Yoli
hello, I ask that you pray for my overall life. Things have just seem to be happening, one after another. I ask that you pray for my finances which are really suffering right now. I’m starting my own business, I ask for guidance with that, that it becomes very successful. I ask that my business become number 1, and my job now becomes secondary. I ask for prayer for my son, just guide him. He is very smart, but is not putting it to use at all. My prayer is that he gets in school, or take some type of trade. Money in consuming him, everything is about money! I ask that you pray for my husband. He is from the Caribbean and has been here one year, and has not found a job. I ask that you give him strength, not let him be content with our situation. It’s no sense of urgency about anything, and I need help! Guide me to help him. I’m not sure what to do, and it’s causing strife and confusion in our marriage. Also pray for my niece, that she gets her life together. I want to pray for my friends, that prosperity, love, and peace enters there life. I need more patience, and my faith needs to get stronger.
Please pray for Patrick Gray who will have surgery on July 3, 2014. Thanks
Gray …I thank you Jesus, I loose the resurrection and healing power working within Patrick now, rebuilding, repairing, and restoring any damage that was done. I loose the resurrection and healing power of the Holy Spirit upon Patrick’s mind, his emotions, and his body in the name of Jesus. Amen
Gray speak out the scriptures on Confession – Healing as stated on this site.
God bless you and Patrick with good health.
Yoli
Please pray for my peace. I am a newly baptized Christian. I was brought to my knees and I learned that the only person to whom I could turn is God. I feel the Holy Spirit within me, but I’m terrified. I’m terrified that God’s will is that I suffer more consequences of my sinful life. I want to pray earnestly that He save me from that, but I realize that it may be part of His plan that I walk through that fire. So all I can do is pray that I feel the peace of Him standing by His word that my sins are washed away in His eyes. That He knows me. That He will know me and love me regardless of what happens to me on earth.
Hello Paul, some great scriptures are to help you on your new Faith and Christian walk are 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 54:17, Psalms 51:1-12, and 2 Timothy 1:7. It is important that you first know JESUS LOVES YOU, your sins are forgiven, build up your FAITH, know that GOD will NEVER put more on you than you can bear, and always remember to say your prayers out loud and use the name of JESUS! The devil will always try to keep reminding you of your past errors, but hold your course! The devil is and will forever be a liar, for he is the accuser of the bretheren. I pray you receive that and I pray that GOD gives you HIS perfect peace that passeth all understanding and that HE will help you and supply and provide what you need, in JESUS Name, Amen.
Hello. I found out today that I have a growth on my body that has to be removed through surgery. I may have cancer. Please pray for me that I will be healed . Thank you.-Matthew
Matthew we rebuke that growth in your body. We speak cancer die at the root. Cancer we throw you back into the lake of fire where it belongs in Jesus name. Matthew we speak life into your immune system. Your immune system becomes stronger every day. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in your body Matthew and quickens your immune system with the life and wisdom of God, which protects the life and health of your body in Jesus name amen!!!
Matthew speak the Healing scriptures and Scriptures against Fear as stated on this site. Read your bible throughout the day. Also, attend church and a bible study there you will meet a group of Christians that will walk with you through your problems.
God bless you!
Yoli
In agreement with you! In JESUS WONDERFUL ALMIGHTY NAME, AMEN. Wonderful prayer, I felt that prayer in my Spirit
matthew..it’s been a month since you posted your comment. what did the doctors say? i have faith it will be good news. The Lord’s will is powerful so let Him take control of your situation. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Can you please pray for my Andy son’s healing of bi-polar depression addiction and being able to work.I have faith and believe in miracles.He’s over dosed and tried to kill him self many times and God has brought him back.God bless you,Kim
Klm we are all in spiritual warfare. This is the time you need to rise up and boldly declare scriptures to Andy. Take Andy to a Baptist church Healing prayer meeting. Don’t let your guard down. Andy needs strong Christians to pray over him. Also, invite the pastor and several prayer warriors to come to your house and pray over every room.
Father in Jesus name we thank You for Your Hand of protection. Lord Jesus touch Andy’s head and mind. Scripture tells us in Psalm 51:10 Jesus create in Andy a clean heart and renew a right spirit within Andy. Jesus heal Andy completely and protect him with your precious blood in Jesus name Amen.
Speak the scriptures aloud to Andy:
1. Confession on Healing
2. Scriptures Against Depression
3. Scriptures against Fear
4. Scriptures Against Suicide
5. Scriptures Against Hopelessness
6. Scriptures on Fighting the Enemy
7. Scriptures on Encouragement
God bless you! keep praying!!!
Amen!
Yoli