What is the Prayer of Faith?
James 5:15
Much of what passes for prayer is wishful thinking.
“Oh Lord, please heal Mary.”
I’m sure you can, Lord. I just don’t know if you will.
“I beg you to heal Tom.”
But if you do, no one will be more surprised than me.
You can pretty much guarantee these sorts of prayers won’t change anything because they are devoid of faith.
The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. (James 5:15a)
If you are not sure that God will answer your prayers, he probably won’t (see James 1:6–7). You may hope that he does, but faith is not hope. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t yet see (Hebrews 11:1).
Jairus came to Jesus certain that he could heal his daughter.
The woman who had been bleeding was just as certain that Jesus could make her whole.
You need to be certain too.
There are no formulas or magic prayers for healing the sick. There is only faith in God.
Our faith doesn’t manufacture the healing or compel God to heal us. Rather, faith is the means by which we access the abundant provision of his grace.
Faith is simply agreeing with God. That’s how we receive. If you don’t agree you’ll have a hard time receiving.
Two blind men came to Jesus looking for healing (see Matthew 9:27–30). Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Jesus then touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith it will be done to you,” and their sight was restored.
Look carefully at the faith of these two blind men.
How many days had they fasted and prayed? None.
For how long had they pounded the gates of heaven with persistent prayers? They hadn’t.
Yet they had enough faith to get the job done.
How do we know they had faith?
It was evident in the way they spoke. They came to Jesus with a “Yes, Lord” attitude. They didn’t say, “I hope you heal us, Lord,” or “If it be your will, Lord.” They simply said, “Yes, Lord.” That’s faith.
Faith is agreeing with God.
Faith is saying yes to the Lord who heals.
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Text source: The Gospel in Twenty Questions, Image source: Healing of a Blind Man by Brian Jekel.
Escape to Reality 
Can anybody tell me will God give us only if we pray or does he gives us volunteerly
He has already given us everything, the problem many times is that we are not receiving. We are not receiving mainly not because of a lack of belief but because of unbelief. Mark 9:23,24
Lord is omni x 3 knows all, is everywhere, all powerful. He knows our needs before we do and often the solution is en route before we realize our own need. What is working for me in my healing ministry is lay hands on people, make the statement to the person or persons, if a couple of OUR omni x 3 Lord meditate on flow of resurrection life as best you can expecting healing and simply say THANK YOU, THANK YOU LORD, BY THE POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT SPIRIT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, IF i have to pray more than once I use the three in that order. OFTEN it takes three prayers in Short succession. it has taken 6 months for Lord to show me this simplicity as Lord Spirit gave me unction.
It’s not clear to me what actually is the real meaning of praying in the name of Jesus, commanding miracle in the name of Jesus, gathering in the name of Jesus and doing all things in the name of Jesus. Can anyone explain it according to scripture clearly.
Plz help this is very confusing.
LT when Jesus was beaten He took that beating so that we could be healed from all forms of sickness and disease. He said that He took all of our sickness on His own body and we don’t have to bear it. By His stripes you are healed. Healing is established for us and lives in us. It is always God’d will to heal, as Jesus already did heal us. When we speak His healing promises over our bodies we declare what Jesus says, not what man or doctors say or how we feel or what we see..we speak the words of God over our body. We can command sickness to go and command our bodies to line up with the word and to be made whole the way God created us in the beginning. I uproot the diagnosis and the symptoms and break their power over my mind and situation in the name of Jesus. He said : Lo I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19) God is waiting for us to use this power and authourity over Satan, to see us walk in divine healing. Don’t ask God to do what Jesus has already done. Believe His promises and agree with what He says and you will see it manifest. Keep declaring the word and don’t give up. If you would like to get all the info you need in a nutshell, order the book called “Simplicity of Healing” by Dr. Sandra Kennedy. I knew about the principles in her book, but when I purposed to use them, I was healed from a deadly lung disease..Praise God!
God gives us what we pray but Is there any verse in Bible which says that God will provide us volunteerly our need even if we dont pray
Psalms 37:4, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 1:3, Philippians 4:19, James 1:17. Abiding in Him is the way, the truth, and the life, John 15:5.
Don’t forget, 1 Timothy 6:17
What about James 4:2 says that you dont have because you dont ask God. Here it seems to be prayer is the only criteria for God to provide
Actually no, prayer is not the only criteria, but rather a combination of asking (prayer) and doing. ”And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and ‘do’ those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22. As again, speaking of ‘doing’, a ‘true righteous one’ would (obviously) do righteousness, 1 John 3:7, which would thus, be pleasing!
Hi LT, when looking at the context, I would say that passage is referring to asking for wisdom. We should be humble enough to ask our Heavenly Father for His wisdom in a situation. It’s ok to ask Him for anything, but as a loving Father, He gives good gifts to His children even if they don’t ask. As with any gift, it’s up to the recipient to receive the gift.
Tq blessed to have you all.
Prayer before Lord’s cross was asking to give. HOW after the cross it is simply thanking HIM for our inheritance. Which is “all things” Pray “. . . .thnk You this day for our daily bread, . . . that You lead US not into temptation but have delivered US from evil. . ” More simply: OUR Lord knows all our needs! with that understanding and trust IN HIS FAITH IN US (Comes by experiencing His partnership), and with knowing that we know that we know Lord has it covered we only need to focUS on Lord as th soul-ution and say thank You Lord. (the simplicity and purity in Christ JesUS ac-know-leged `(leged: a firm foundation from which to jump off of in faith He has US covered) Lord Bless OUR SOUL (Joined in soul as one)
Paul
Hope this isn’t off subject, but I have been reading Matt 6 on prayer, alms and fasting. In Acts and other places in the NT it mentions fasting. What do you think it means? Do you believe in stopping eating for spiritual reasons?
Fred
The first “prayer” you give as an example:
“Oh Lord, please heal Mary.” I’m sure you can, Lord. I just don’t know if you will.
And then you say:
You can pretty much guarantee these sorts of prayers won’t change anything because they are devoid of faith.
But that is almost the exact same thing that the leper said to Jesus in Matthew 8:2 – A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
What did Jesus NOT say to the leper. He didn’t say “Sorry, I can’t do anything for you because your request is devoid of faith”. No, He not only healed him, he reached out His hand and touched the leper, I think knowing that the leper also needed social/emotional healing by being touched.
And this isn’t the only example of Jesus doing something for someone who had doubt or even had fear and worry.
I’ve never had children… but I have had cats (they’re sort of like perpetual 3 year olds). I was happy when they were good, but even though I’m an imperfect human I knew enough not to expect perfection from them. God knew we couldn’t keep the law perfectly. I’m not sure it makes sense that He would put something into place where we have to have essentially perfect faith, with no doubt.
I can’t say more here now because I’m just about at 250 words already.
I wish you had written what Jesus DID say to the leper. Unlike the uncertain leper, Jesus had sure faith. “I am willing. Be clean!”
No one is asking for perfect faith, but I’m sure you will agree that even faith the size of a mustard seed is better than doubt and uncertainty.
I often think of myself as a mother with my children. Do I wait til they ask for something to give it to them? No, it’s my nature as a mom to always be listening and it’s my nature as a born-again christian to listen and hear needs and reach out (we can’t help it). If I can be that good of a parent, how greater is God our Father!
Also, next time you say the Lord’s Prayer remember the implied “you”. If I’m looking at you and say, “come in and sit down”, I’m implying “you” come in and sit down. I’ve come to see this prayer as a prayer of thanksgiving for the facts of Who God is and what He has done (in Christ), instead of a prayer of petition (and for future events). This is the way He taught us to pray.
Otherwise, we are asking God the Father to lead us not into temptation, as if He ever would! And, is His forgiveness to me contingent upon my forgiveness toward others? Only under the law, not in Christ. Thank you God! Thank you Jesus!
So often we (christians) make it much more complicated than it is……
We have faith and we pray and then we walk out our faith (that seems to be the hard part-the walking). If I need money and have faith that I have a check in the mail, walking it out is —
getting up and walking to the mailbox and looking inside……
Often my prayers or the manner in which I pray is for the one I’m praying with/for. Example, recently my boss/friend and his wife were at the office late and came crying and asking for prayer for their daughter and child (I did not know at that time, but during the birth, they both died). I said yes and started praying silently (I also took note of how they were speaking death and in a great panic). Then the Spirit moved me and I went to his office, shut the door and said let’s pray. They both stood up and came over and my prayer began—Father, thank you that You always hear us and always answer our prayers; and thank you for healing mom and baby and taking care of them right now, etc. God took care of them and the grandparents. I thanked Him I was part of it, cuz it built me up in faith (I had left and returned to the office, which I never do).
I too don’t think there’s a formula; however, I think there is a mindset and that is to pray from victory (His victory), instead of for victory. It’s all finished and we have all that we need! WE, the body of Christ, need to remind and encourage one another in His truth, His words, His ways! He doesn’t lie,never has.
Something to think about–
Be encouraged!
What does it mean to pray in Jesus name or commanding a miracle in Jesus name? Does it mean based on Lord Jesus Christ sacrifice on cross? If it is so before crucifixion many made miracles in Jesus name? Or does it mean based on Jesus being Son of God? Or does it mean based on Jesus perfect life, crucifixion, resurrection, and he sitting at the right hand of the Father? Plz help me to understand this in right perspective.
It means don’t pray in Buddha’s name or any one other than the Lord Jesus.
Jesus took all sickness n His own body on the cross and He said we don’t have to bear it. He said by His stripes (beatings) we ARE healed. We are coming from a healed position at the cross and as we speak the promises of God over ourselves(out loud), we will walk to victory and see thst healing manifest. Do not look at the diagnosis (uproot the words and break their power over you), do not look at the pain or the illness, but look at and believe what God says. Command your body to line up with the word of God, command the spirit of infirmity to go and command the healing of Jesus to manifest. The Father said that whatever we ask (command or demand) in Jesus’ name, He will do.
Healing lives in us and is our inheritance in Jesus. It was never God’s will for sickness to exist. The fall of Adam and Eve brought sickness and evil to this earth. It is the works of Satan and we have all authourity over him in Jesus’ name.
Yes we cannot pray in Buddha’s name or Krishna’s name. It’s not clear for me praying in Jesus name or commanding a miracle in Jesus name means I think it’s not just adding a phrase. For example if I am praying to Jesus himself y I must add the phrase In Jesus name. What should be the real thinking or belief when it means praying in Jesus name or commanding a miracle in Jesus name?
Right on LJP!
Dear Pastor Paul, After reading your article on faith to receive healing, I was left with a question. What happens when you have believed God and healing doesn’t come? Thank you
I have seen (and experienced) dramatic and instant healings, and I have also seen healings that took time to manifest and others that have not manifested (yet). Obviously, we all want to experience the first kind of healing, but when it doesn’t happen, fortify your mind and continue to speak and pray in faith.
That was a good question and a hard answer but scriptural truth.