Believing Prayer

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.”—Mark 11:23 NASB

“Why do I see so little fruit from my ministry?” “Why are members of my church so little helped by my ministry?” These were some of the questions pastors asked Reuben Archer Torrey. His answer? “Neglect of prayer.” He reminded them, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).

Often working in close harmony with Dwight L. Moody, Torrey had seen many miracles and conversions. Born in 1856, he held many crusades around the world before being called to lead Moody Bible Institute.

Torrey observed that many Christians “do not believe in prayer as bringing anything to pass that would not have come to pass even if they had not prayed.” Yes, they pray, but deep down, they don’t really believe that prayer changes things or that their prayers can move mountains.

The same patterns are still true. Many Christians pray at least on a semi-regular basis, but how many really believe that anything is possible if they pray in faith? How many believe that they can speak to a mountain, and it will “be taken up and cast into a sea”?

How about you? Do you really believe God’s Word? Are you willing to humble yourself and seek His face? Do you seek first His Kingdom? Do you really believe that prayer matters?

Commit yourself to prayer. Seek God for yourself, for your family, for your country, and the world.

Reflection Question:How can you increase your faith when you pray?