And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Heb 11:6 ESV)

We often hear that “prayer changes things,” but scripturally, it’s not the power of prayer, but the faith behind it that brings results. “He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith be it done to you’” (Mt 9:29). It is not a matter of praying harder, louder, or longer. It’s a matter of getting God’s heart settled in your own heart.

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The reason that faith is so important to God is because it is the evidence that we truly believe in who He is and in what He says. It is the evidence that we are not looking to ourselves, our situations, or other people to determine our future or outcome, but Him. It is the unwavering knowing that “He’s got this!”

Faith in Him is the fuel of our prayers.

If we are unsure of what we are asking from Him, our spiritual gas tank is empty, and we will get nowhere. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his way” (Jas 1:6-8 ESV).

When we come to His Word, He wants to reveal to us the heart of the Father, the mind of Christ, and the power of His Spirit. As each of these are established and nurtured in the secret place, our relationship with God deepens, our faith grows, and our prayers become powerful (Jas 2:23).

Before we can even begin to pray effectively, we must settle where our faith lies. Ultimately, our faith does not lie in an answer, but in the answer, God Himself. It is God’s heart and character that are the bedrock of our faith. We don’t have to know what an outcome might be as much as Who is behind it. When we truly know His heart for us, we will not question His ways, His means, or His methods. We’ll simply trust Him.

If you are not in this place of confidence, start by emptying yourself of any fear or anxiety you are carrying. Get honest with God. Tell Him what you are thinking and share your doubts. As you recognize these ungodly beliefs and states of mind that clog up the pipeline of your faith, you can then allow Him to deal with them.

Faith is secured when you are sure of what God says about a matter. Romans 10:17 states that faith is established when we hear God’s Word. This can come through reading Scripture, worship, listening to a good teaching, hearing testimonies, or remembering His faithfulness in the past. Find what it is that helps you build your own faith in Him and fill up your faith tank before attempting to go anywhere.

Lord, I confess to You the doubts and fears I have regarding__________ (name any specific doubt or fear). Forgive my unbelief about these issues and teach me Your truth that I might come to You in absolute faith and trust. I recognize that I need to build up my faith by ______________________ (name the ways in which you will actively build your faith.) I want to please You. Fill me with a greater revelation of Your love, an increase of wisdom and discernment through the mind of Christ, and a tangible demonstration of the Spirit’s power at work in my life.  Help me to establish a solid foundation of faith in my life that will be unshakeable. In Jesus’ name, amen.

*Taken from devotional, “Oracles of Grace: Building a Legacy of Wisdom and Revelation” by Wanda Alger.