Praying in Faith

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity,
but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Have you ever prayed for strength?  Strangely enough, sometimes our prayers may hinder our faith more than help it grow. One of the greatest expressions of faith in prayer is thanksgiving.  When I examine my own prayer life, I’ve discovered that I’ve often asked God for things He’s already done or promised.  What I should be doing is thanking Him for the provision He has already supplied.  For example, have you ever prayed, “Oh God, be with me today.”  Sometimes I wonder if God doesn’t just shake His head and think, “Well, let me see, I don’t know, I’m really busy and not sure I can be with you today or not. I have a lot on my plate.”  The fact is He has already promised us more than once, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age!” in Matthew 28:20 (NLT)  and “I will never leave you nor forsake you!” in Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)  So, rather than asking God to be with us, a prayer of faith would acknowledge His presence.  “Thank You, Father, that You are with me!”  Do you feel the difference in the confidence that can bring your soul when you pray in faith, thanking God for what He has promised you? 

The same holds true when we pray for strength.  When you face pressures and problems that leave you feeling weak and threaten to derail you, meet them with prayers of faith that build confidence by claiming the promises of God.  Today’s verse is a great one to meditate on and pray back to God in faith. 

“Thank You, Father, that You have not given me a spirit of fear or timidity.  Thank You that You are my strength and have given me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.”

Practice praying in faith and watch your confidence grow!

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Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.