A Prayer of Praise

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

Sometimes we pray for hours, days, even months, and yet God does absolutely nothing. Not only does He not act, but He says nothing. It is then that many Christians begin to doubt and question their faith. To justify God's silence, they offer all sorts of interpretations for their faith or their attitude. And when they run out of arguments, they wonder if God has heard their prayer. Either they redouble their efforts to continue praying, or they give up, because they have lost hope.

Whoever doubts their own faith has never had faith in God. If you read the preceding verses, especially verse 22, you will see that after Peter mentioned to Jesus that the fig tree had withered, His first response was, "Have faith in God." This means that whatever we do, we must have unwavering faith, knowing that God will always act on our behalf. Even if days, months, or even years go by, it doesn't mean God hasn't heard your prayer or that He won't answer it. It may simply not be the right time yet. Don't be discouraged from praying.

Some people view prayer as a way to list their personal needs to God. So, when they pray, they don't focus on God, but on what they want to receive from Him. It's important to understand that prayer isn't an act of asking God; rather, it's a way of worshipping God for who He is. To pray is to praise Him; it's to open our hearts to Him and entrust Him with our worries. The first part of Jesus' prayer was, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name." He sought God's glory above all else. It is this prayer of praise, offered with faith to God, that allows us to see His will fulfilled in our lives.

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.