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Bold Prayers

Today's verse is one of those verses that often raises questions in our minds. Is it really true that if I just have enough faith, God will give me whatever I ask for? How many times have you prayed for something, believing God would answer it, but then it didn’t happen? Maybe you’ve wondered if there’s a problem with your faith.

Without any other context, the promise here in Mark 11:24 sounds like a “name it and claim it” kind of theology, where you simply claim that God will give you something—health, wealth, or prosperity—and it’s yours. But that’s clearly not what Jesus was saying here, because it contradicts other clear teachings in Scripture. So what is Jesus saying?

One of the best ways to understand this saying is to combine it with another saying of Jesus in John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” The foundation for praying with faith is praying with trust in the words of Jesus.

When we trust in the words of Jesus, we can be confident that we’re asking for things that align with God’s will. Based on this truth, the secret to success in prayer is twofold. First, make your wants God’s wants. Second, ask for whatever you want. Trust God to keep his Word.

The beauty of this is that Jesus is inviting us into a relationship with him in which we pray confidently according to his Word. Now, to be clear, there are times where we don’t know exactly what God’s will is in a particular situation. Will he heal this friend or family member? Will he change my circumstances? We don’t know the answers to these questions because we don’t know how God is working for our good. But, if you belong to Christ, you can be confident that he is working for your good (Romans 8:28), and you can pray accordingly.

Regardless of circumstances, there are many things we know to ask for: peace, contentment, strength, and joy. Our sufficiency and our ultimate satisfaction is found in God alone. Therefore, ask for these things, and trust God to give them to you.

Prayer

God, teach us to pray like this with confidence in you and your Word rather than confidence in our wisdom to know what’s best in a certain situation. You alone are all-wise, and as your children, we come to you with our desires: for healing, for resolution of circumstances, and for redemption in particular situations. And as we ask for these things, we ask for them with trust in you to work in whatever way is wisest, for our good and for Your glory. Make our wants your wants, and then give us confidence to ask for whatever we want according to your Word.

So, God, amidst all kinds of specific things going on in our lives, we pray right now for wisdom according to your Word, for joy according to your Word, for peace according to your Word, for patience according to your Word, and for your provision for our needs and the needs of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.