I once heard a minister who taught that God responds to prayer, which is scriptural. However, he extended it much further, such that we have been granted great authority through prayer to change the world or refuse to pray and allow the enemy to prevail. I don’t want to get into an argument about doctrine as God is Sovereign and such debates are fruitless. (2 Tim 2:23) Nevertheless, imagine that Yeshua, (Jesus’ Hebrew name), meant what He said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) We could ask anything according to God’s will and it would be done. If we asked for a million dollars, it would not be done because that is selfish and not God’s will. However, if we asked for our family and friends to experience the love of God in a personal way, it would be done, because scripture says, “God is love” and “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (1 John 4:8,16; Romans 5:8)

If we believe God responds to our prayers, how would that change our prayer time? If we read God’s promises in scripture and believed our prayers could unlock these promises, how would that change our faith? The Bible is full of examples of answered prayer and encouragement to believe in the effigy of God’s word; how have these scriptures been set aside? When teacher’s taught us that only Yeshua and the Apostles in the first century had their prayers answered, why was that teaching accepted? Which is closer to the true plain reading of scripture; that God answers prayer or that an actual answer to prayer is very rare? 

What do you believe? How often do you ask in faith believing God will respond? Are your prayers filled with caveats and conditions, because you doubt, and when there is no answer God will have an excuse? When did you last pray, believing you would receive what you asked? Would God answer a prayer when you don’t even believe it is possible? Scripture says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)  

For those prayer champions who answer these questions with specific memories of God’s faithfulness and lovingkindness in answer to the prayer of faith, I say, “You are the salt of the earth, which saves, purifies, heals, preserves, and sustains life in the Holy Spirit among the Congregation of Believers.” Your story will be a supplement to Hebrews 11, “the Faith Hall of Fame”. Moreover, you will be acknowledged as blessed in the Kingdom of God, because of your faith. (John 20:29) Take heart, God has reserved an army of prayer warriors, like you, and He will win the victory. (Rom. 11:4-5)