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19th November 2024
TuesdayReflection
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'David McFadden'
'Guest Contributor to CHRISTIANS ENGAGED'
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Faith-Believing
is Essential for Effective Prayer
The terms "faith" and "believing" are synonymous, but these two concepts often have different meanings in Scripture.
Therefore, I feel it necessary to distinguish between them.
While studying the Scripture references that help define "faith" and those defining "belief," I discovered a subtle shade of difference between the words.
The word "faith" defines how you perceive God's faithfulness in your mind through your five senses.
For instance, we obtain faith by hearing God's Word.
We acquire faith when we see a person healed, and our faith grows when we can feel His presence.
"Taste and see that the Lord is good."
All of our mind senses help us perceive and grow our faith.
Yet, I contend that this level or "type" of faith is usually not actionable.
Let me explain.
While faith is made stronger through a "convinced mind," actionable faith requires a believing heart.
Think about the times when you took passionate action - we take action when our emotions become involved.
Why?
Because believing is a function of the heart where our emotions move us to act.
"Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, and he will have whatever he says.
Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
..... Mark 11:22-24 NKJV
These promises from the book of Mark are admittedly beyond human comprehension.
However, we know we should believe this verse that Jesus spoke to the disciples.
How often have we prayed, knowing this verse, but then immediately put limits on the "possibility" of having our prayer answered to its fullest?
Our sometimes-transient human faith, combined with a wishy-washy heart, has an eye on possible disappointment.
Even moments after we pray, we seem ready to defend God and offer reasons why He may not, or will not, answer our prayer.
Could it be that praying for the seemingly impossible creates the potential for a credibility crisis?
If my prayer does not come about as I prayed, will the person I pray for think I'm not credible or, worse yet, that God is not credible, faithful, or reliable?
The answer lies in having child-like faith.
As adults, we have become jaded through life's disappointments, so it's natural for us to have caution when asked to believe the extraordinary or supernatural.
Jesus said emphatically, "... believe that you receive."
Believing entails hearing with your heart what God has said He will do, as well as having eyes to see Him doing it.
Having a convinced mind and a believing heart prepares you to receive.
The prepared heart of the believing disciple sees and hears God's answer and believes all things are possible.
We must step into God's realm by the power of the Holy Spirit and take God at His Word.
When we let loose of our earth-bound frailties of limited probabilities that hinder our prayers, and grasp with our hearts the Holy Spirit's quickening power, we step into His provision - His heart of caring love.
We must practice believing.
This means exercising our faith by frequently taking the truth of God's Word, and applying it without imposing qualifying thoughts, 'if possible,' 'if it's Your will.'
Let's not reduce God's promises to the level that we think is possible.
Instead, we must plant both feet in God's kingdom and stand on His promise
" ... he that does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatsoever he says."
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This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
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