The Prayer of Faith

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24 (NKJV)

Charles Spurgeon was raised in a Christian home. When he was fifteen, he felt spiritually lost. It seemed that God was distant. It seemed as if his prayers were not reaching God’s ears. One Sunday morning, during a snowstorm, he was on his way to church, but couldn’t go further because of the snow. So he turned into a side street and discovered a little Methodist church. When he entered, he found the church nearly empty. The man who was preaching used one verse of scripture during his sermon,

Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 (NKJV)

The simple sermon changed Spurgeon’s life. He says,

“There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant, and sung with the most enthusiastic of them, of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to Him.”

That same year Spurgeon preached his first sermon. He later went on to preach up to thirteen times a week to tens of thousands of people. Those who heard him preach were surprised to discover that he had a keen sense of humour. He believed that joy was to be found in Christ. Despite his joy in life, personal tragedies, illness, and the stress he experienced caused bouts of depression. He believed that his suffering helped him to have compassion on others who suffered. Spurgeon’s deep and effective prayer life helped him to overcome the dark periods in his life.

We have much to learn from Spurgeon’s prayer life. Today we will focus on just one of his valuable thoughts on prayer. Tomorrow we will talk some more about the treasures that made his prayer life so deep and rich

Pray in Faith

He believed that it was important to pray in faith. To believe that our prayers will be effective when we pray them in faith, believing that God will accomplish much through them (James 5:16). This is what Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) says,

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

He believed that when we come to God’s throne of grace, we need to remember that we are coming to a King. To One who gives like a King. To the One who is always ready to reward us when we seek Him. So let us come to our King of Kings in faith, believing that whatever we ask for according to His will, we will receive it.

To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse. C.H. Spurgeon

Reflection:

Will you diligently seek God in faith, believing that He will answer your prayers according to His will?

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You. Help me to seek You fervently each day. Help me to do this in faith, believing that You are able to move the mountains in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.