Thoughts for Life: #53 The Dynamic of Faith

D. Wesley L. Duewel: "Prayer is not limited to the humanly possible. Prayer is a work of faith.

The purpose of prevailing prayer is to bring to pass things that are divinely possible and that are in God's will. Our prayer is an essential condition to most of God's sovereign workings in redemption.

Conditioning His works of power upon our prevailing in prayer does not limit God's sovereignty. He has chosen to make us His co laborers through our prayer and obedience.

In prevailing prayer you are asking God to do things you can accomplish in no other way. To prevail you need to desire and hunger deeply, to pray with fervor and passion.

In addition, however, you need the dynamic of Faith. 'This is the victory,' John assures us, to overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4). And equally, this is the victory in prevailing prayer—our triumphant faith.

Millions of prayers are prayed with almost no faith. James tells us that God is a generous giver, but we 'must believe and not doubt' when we pray (James 1:6). He calls the doubter a double-minded person and states emphatically, 'That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord' (v.7).

How often we are double-minded in our praying. We believe that God can answer our prayer. Obviously, we have some hope that He will answer it, or we would not pray.

But oh, how often we do not really expect God to answer. If Jesus asked us, as He did the two blind men who came to Him for healing, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this? ' (Matt. 9:28), we would instantly reply, 'Yes, Lord.'

We know He is able to do all things. If we are totally honest, however, we would admit we do not feel sure that God will answer the need for which we pray.

Perhaps there is no thing about which Jesus expressed so frequent disappointment as the lack of faith in His disciple. Five times He exclaimed, 'O you of little faith.'

In three places we read the words, 'unbelieving generation.' Three times Jesus conditions the mighty work God will do by saying, 'If you have faith.'

Hear His words:

"Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:25).
"Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).
"Because you have so little faith" (Matt. 17:20).
"Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27).
"He was amazed at their lack of faith" (Mark 6:6).
"He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith: (Matt. 13:58).
"He rebuked them for their lack of faith" (Mark 16:14).

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana.

Mighty Prevailing Prayer

#53 The Dynamic of Faith

by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

(pp. 91-93)) Zondervan

Let's pray-

Father, as we pray alone, or we gather with others to pray, we ask for an increase of faith in our petitions.

May we not be double-minded in our thinking, but may we be sure of what it is we're asking for, and that we remember that the purpose of prevailing prayer is to bring to pass things that are divinely possible, and which are Your will.

I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

(James 1:22)"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

(Psalms 119:11) "I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you."

Today's quotes-

Sanctuary

"Whenever I'm feeling troubled,

When the trials of life press in,

When my spirit's overburdened

With real or imagined sin,

I seek out a sanctuary

In some quiet, peaceful spot,

Be it church or room or woodland

Or a little garden plot;

There, alone in contemplation,

I recall a passage dear

From the psalms or from the gospels,

And I feel God's presence near.

I may hum a simple hymn tune

Or recite a soothing verse,

And with God, my Friend and Savior,

Through the act of prayer converse.

Then the solace, strength and courage,

Bensions from God above,

Fill my being with contentment,

In the knowledge of His love.

And as I abide in patience,

All my cares just drift away,

And with spirit cleansed and quickened,

I can turn to face life's fray."

Alice J. Christianson

(Taken from Salesian Inspirational Books

A Salesian Missions Publication

c 62395 pp.24,25

Darlene Sinclair- "Time and again the new glass pitcher breaks, the cleaned window gets cloudy, and the friendship fails. A good lesson has been learned. Enjoy the beauty, but don't depend on it for real joy. Delight in the experience but find lasting delight in Him (Jesus). Lean only on Him and look to Him for the real thing.

The incorruptible awaits us, and oh, how glorious that will be! Perfection forever. But He is with us today; His beauty, His faithfulness, and His truth."

Today's thought-

The mission of the Church isn't just as an institution. As the Holy Spirit fills the believers, He enables them to do God's will, and become highly effective for the Kingdom of Christ.

What impacts people is seeing God in the face of committed believers, who have a fresh sense of His Presence and guidance for their lives through daily spending time with Him and His Word.

Upcoming posts-

#54 Your Need Appeals to God's Heart of Love

15th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Amazing Grace, to the Rescue

17th- Saturday's post by Ron Hutchcraft

#55 Faith Conquers Doubt

20th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#56 Faith, Signs and Assurance

22nd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

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