BOOK: Exhortations

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Volume 11 ... #22 

 Building Your Faith To Pray

A woman was telling me of the problem her adult aged son was having concerning his marriage.  I knew this woman had often prayed over this but I could tell she was still troubled.

I reminded her to pray again ... each time the subject came to mind.

Paul said ... Pray without ceasing.  (I Thess. 5:17)

I believe this means to pray without ceasing to pray about the subject at hand.

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It is not weak faith to pray multiple times.  If you continue to be troubled, pray. 

Jesus explained that we ought to pray and not give up. 

Lk. 18:1-8 ...  And HE (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man. Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge HIS own elect, which cry day and night unto HIM, though HE bear long with them? 

I tell you that HE will avenge them speedily. 

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?

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It takes very strong faith to pray effectively in times like this.  You can't be wishy/washy ... mealy mouth.

When you know what is right, you must go forward with prayer in great strength, without any safety net to catch you.  "If I perish, I perish."  says Esther.

Esther 4 ... Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

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Sometimes our prayers must be violent. (Determined to get what is right.)

Mt. 11 ... Jesus said ... And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

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There are prayers which must be "red hot" ... fervent ... deep rooted ... crying out with all your heart and soul ... steeped in faith in what you are praying, both faith in God and faith that you are praying what is "right."

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Until you can pray this way, it is best to build your faith more before you pray by keeping scripture before you until you are "red hot" and then when that is the case, pray. 

James 5:16 ... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Effectual and fervent:  bound in "rightness" and "red hot" in intensity.

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Psalm 31:24 ... Be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Courage:

- acting in accordance with one's beliefs

- quality that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain without fear

- to persevere with tenacity in firmness of mind

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After considering all the above, then keep scriptures on prayer in front of you day and night until you are strong enough to pray.  Scriptures such as the following: 

Phil. 4:6 ... in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

James 1:6 ... But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. 

 

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Prayer is not for the faint-hearted.

You must have the faith and strength of Joshua and Caleb. 

Numbers 13:30 ... And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said,
 

Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

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