Faith Intimacy and Answered Prayers

Matthew 21:22 
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

For believers, faith and prayer are inseparable in a relationship with God. Faith is our lifestyle, and prayer is the air of heaven we breathe. Asking and receiving exactly what we ask for should come naturally for us. God has not made promises He doesn’t intend to keep. So, He actually expects us to remind Him of the very things He has promised.

 Have Faith in God

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:22-24  

Faith always requires some fact or evidence to rest upon, because faith can only be exercised where the will of God is known. The promises of God are His will in those particular areas. The Bible is filled with promises that we can use in prayer if we believe them.  So, wherever we find a promise which we can apply to our situation, we can consider using it as the basis for our faith.

This applies to promises, commands, and general principles found in narratives, if the meaning of those passages can be seen to include our particular situation.  Whatever situations we may find ourselves in, we should simply look for a passage that clearly applies to that situation, and use it in prayer.

Live Close to God

Intimacy with God is personal; it’s an expression and a response of your love for Him. Intimacy takes time to develop. When you know God intimately you’ll love Him with all your heart, and obeying His word becomes natural, because it’s now what you want to do for the one who’s captured your heart (John 14:23-24).

As you continue living in the light of His word, He’ll continue revealing truth to you. The freedom you begin to experience from living like this is sometimes overwhelming.  It’s in this relationship that a great capacity for trusting what God says is formed within you. In this kind of intimacy, your heart begins to respond in the affirmative to every promise you see.

Learn to Trust and be Trusted

Continued exposure to God’s presence develops a hearing heart within you. It’s natural to believe you’ll receive what you ask for from the one who you’ve come to adore. This is how simple faith in prayer is developed. Because you’ve come to adore Him, God can easily trust you with great answers to prayer, because you won’t be asking for things He is not willing to give.

This brings us back to the necessity of knowing Him intimately. When you delight yourself in Him, He places His desires on your heart. Isn’t it true, when you’re really in love with someone you come to share the same desires? (See Psalm 37:3-5)

Think of the influence you would have on those around you, living this lifestyle of prayer.  Imagine seeking God and searching the Scriptures for promises to obtain answers for others. How would that change things? Ask God for anything He’s promised, live close to Him, love Him and trust Him, you’ll Be Encouraged!  – JSP

* Featured Image from: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/series/intimacy-with-god/