For many people, however, prayer is some kind of abstract experience or just an escape valve. They don’t see their prayers answered to any degree. And really, they don’t expect their prayers to be answered.
But that’s contrary to the way Jesus lived His life on the earth. And it’s contrary to the way He taught His followers to live. He taught them (and us) to live a lifestyle of faith and prayer—and to expect results.
As Christians, prayer should be as natural and powerful to us as it was to Jesus when He spoke to the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22:
Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Notice that when Jesus was answering their questions about the fig tree withering, He was answering their questions about something literal. He was not just referring to something spiritual. So speaking to the mountain, asking in prayer, and believing to receive work not only in the spiritual realm, but also in the physical, material realm.
When Jesus spoke to the fig tree He was demonstrating and teaching us that by using our faith, the Word of God and prayer, we too can bring circumstances in line with God’s will.
Praying With Power
When you pray do you expect results…every time? Well, you should, and you can. Here are seven steps that can help you see results in prayer—every time.
- Base every prayer on the Word.
Prayer that brings results must be based on God’s Word. So start with the answer, which is the Word. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
For prayer to bring results, you must pray specifically. That means you must find scripture that applies to your situation and base your prayer on that scripture. For example, if you’re facing sickness, find scripture that pertains to healing. Your prayer could be based on 1 Peter 2:24 because that scripture says, by Jesus’ stripes you were healed.
When you have God’s Word about a particular issue, you have a foundation on which to believe Him. And when you put God’s Word in your spirit, it feeds your faith. Romans 10:17 explains, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”