HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY? – WITH FAITH

HOW THEN SHOULD WE PRAY? is a question that all of us should ask ourselves every day, as we walk on the Narrow Path. The Word of God encourages us to pray, and pray with faith. Faith in the faithfulness of God to help us, guide us, and guard us at all times. This is the only worthy and dependable recourse made available the LORD Jesus to a Christian. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters let us pray to the LORD Jesus Christ with faith.

1- PRAY WITH FAITH
The LORD our God encourages us to seek Him with FAITH…this is obviously and abundantly clear.
– Faith in the goodness of our LORD.
– Faith in the graciousness of our Creator.
– Faith in the kindness of our Redeemer.
– Faith in the fact that God our Father cares for us, and will surely and certainly help us with whatever we are facing.
– Faith in the LORD Jesus, and in His ability to keep us safe and secure.
– Praying with faith is depending entirely upon God, and not our own merit or standing before God.
– “​1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Here under are a few more Bible verses to help us see the significance of faith in all our prayers to the Living God, the God of all creation, the God Most High, the God of the Bible.
– “24 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
– “6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6
– “20 He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” – Romans 4:20-21
– “8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;” – 1 Timothy 2:8

2- FAITH IS ESSENTIAL WHEN WE PRAY
Faith in God’s goodness to provide all our needs is absolutely critical and essential when we pray. For upon it depends how things work for us.
– “6 But 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

3- PRAYING WITH FAITH DOESN’T MEAN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER IS IN THE STRENGTH OF OUR FAITH
Faith is an instrument to implore God for grace, mercy and help in all our needs. Faith is not an instrument of influence over the sovereignty of God, and make Him do what we want. We ought to be careful from this erroneous thinking.

Writing in his article, “What Does It Mean to Pray with Faith?” Colin Smith highlights this very pertinent fallacy that has crept into our understanding about our prayers and our faith.
– “A loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness, so the family and friends of this person begin to pray. Over time the sickness gets worse, and someone says, “If only we had enough faith, we could move the hand of God, and the answer would be given.” / There’s an increasing sense that life and death lay in the hands of those who pray. Faith is no longer a matter of trusting God. It’s about convincing ourselves that the outcome we’re asking for is going to happen.” – Colin Smith

The above erroneous teaching that Colin Smith highlights is unbiblical, to say the least, and new age philosophy, to say the worst. Let us be careful not to let any errors creep into our understanding about God, prayer and the role of faith.

Let us, as we seek the LORD Jesus in prayer for all our needs, approach Him with faith. Let us never forget that God expects faith in our prayers. For without faith it is impossible to please God. Even so, the LORD help us.