Introductory Thoughts
God wants to answer prayer. As a loving, compassionate Father, God wants to regularly hear from His children. Prayer is a matter of life and death for believers. Yet, sin hinders prayers and operates as the enemy to getting prayers answered. Though several sins are identified as hindrances, unbelief stands as prayer’s chief opponent. Believers should approach God’s throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16) knowing that God can and will reward the diligent seeker (Hebrews 11:6). In today’s passage, the believer is challenged to come to God in faith without wavering. A man who comes to the Lord with a wavering heart should realize that his double minded ways hinder his prayers and directly impact his relationship to the Lord (James 1:7). Ask and receive in faith.
Devotional Thoughts
-
(For children): Ask several people you highly respect to give you an example of God answering their prayers. Likewise, God wants to answer your prayers too. He loves to hear from you and finds joy in answering your prayers to Him.
-
(For everyone): Are you frequently getting your prayers answered? Reflect upon your faith when you approach the Lord. Do you pray expecting God to answer, or do you wonder if He even hears you when you speak?
-
Do you find that you approach the Lord in prayer with little faith that He can or will move on your behalf? Why is that? Has the Lord given you any definite reason to doubt His faithfulness?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to remind you of all the answered prayers in your past.
- Ask God for the faith necessary to pray without wavering.
Song
Sweet Hour of Prayer
