Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 6—The Prayer Of Faith
Prayer Is Heaven’s Means of Success in Overcoming Sin—There are many who, though striving to obey God’s commandments, have little peace or joy. This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to exercise faith. They walk as it were in a salt land, a parched wilderness. They claim little, when they might claim much; for there is no limit to the promises of God. Such ones do not correctly represent the sanctification that comes through obedience to the truth. The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient. Through the exercise of faith the believer comes into possession of these blessings. Through faith, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed. {Pr 52.1}
Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, “Ye shall receive.”(The Acts of the Apostles, 563, 564.) {Pr 52.2}
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We are to look at the things which are not seen, as the things which are seen are temporal, but the things unseen are eternal. We are to come to God in prayer with childlike faith, believing all things before they happen. Without faith our prayers are fearful and weak and do not demonstrate love for Christ. Christ tells us not to be afraid, only believe. But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Amen.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come to You in thanksgiving and praise. We thank You for always being there for us as we bring our petitions before You. We long for the peace and joy that only You can bring. We thank You for giving us a lifeline to heaven above through prayer. We pray that as we speak to You that we may draw nigh unto You and You unto us. As we pray, we long to hear Your voice. We pray that You speak to us, and that we hear and understand Your message to us. We all go through trials and tribulations and are always either entering a trial, in the middle of a trial, or just ending with a trial. We pray that as we endure these trials, that You help us keep our faith strong, and to continually exercise our faith. Increase our faith, and help our unbelief. Help us to put on the whole armor of God as we fend off Satan. May we diligently seek Your face, resist the devil that he may flee from us. It is Satan’s desire to separate Your children from the flock through his temptations. Satan knows that sin is what separates us from You. We pray that we receive Your Power from on High, that we successfully overcome sin, as You overcame all of Satan’s temptations. We pray that we may reach the level of righteousness You provided us through Your example. Help us be an example to others who are struggling in their faith. We claim all of Your promises and pray that we may teach others to do likewise if they claim little, when they might claim much; for there is no limit to Your promises. We pray that if we ask, we shall receive. Let us remain obedient to Your truth. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
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