What happens when you pray? Do you expect to see a change or are you simply begging God to do something and hoping for the best?
So many times Christians view prayer as a last resort. We’ll ask “What else can I do besides just pray?” as if prayer wouldn’t bring about change at all. The early disciples weren’t any better. If you read Acts 12:1-19 you find Peter in jail, about to be martyred, and the early church has gathered to pray for him. When an angel of the Lord releases him in the night, he goes to the place the church is gathered praying for him. First, the servant girl doesn’t even open the door for him. She runs off to tell the disciples what she sees. Then the prayer group proceeds to tell her she saw a ghost. It appears they haven’t even considered the possibility God responded to their cry for Peter’s release and rescue.
We must have faith when we pray. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” [Hebrews 11:1]. Throughout the Gospels Jesus told people “your faith has healed you” [Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34, 10:52; Luke 8:48 and Luke 18:42]. We need to remember what Matthew 19:26 tells us: “With God all things are possible.”
Are you facing something that appears to be impossible? God specializes in the impossible. If He can release Peter from shackles between two soldiers and have him pass by two other soldiers on his way out of a locked gate, He can handle what you’re dealing with if you will ask and believe. In Mark 11:24 Jesus challenges us to believe. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”