“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).
Some people ask, “Is it scriptural to believe you receive before you see or feel anything?” Let’s look at a Bible illustration to find the answer to that question.
Remember, Jesus told the Jews, “Tear this temple down, and I’ll raise it in three days” (John 2:19). He told the disciples over and over again, “I’m going, but I’ll be back.” But when He went to the cross, the disciples thought He was dead and gone for good.
But then Jesus was resurrected, and He appeared to His disciples. Thomas, however, wasn’t present when Jesus came. When Thomas showed up later, the others told him, “Thomas, we’ve seen the Lord!” Thomas replied, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).
Thomas, who probably thought he was being spiritual, was saying, “You say you saw Jesus, but I’m not getting caught up in your imaginations. I’m not believing anything until I can see and touch Him.”
A few days later, the disciples were all together, and Jesus apparently came walking in without opening the door. The first thing He did was walk over to Thomas and say, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). Thomas had thought he was being really spiritual, but Jesus told him, “Quit being faithless; just believe.”
Jesus continued to set His doubting disciple straight: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
Jesus said the blessed ones are those who believe without seeing first. I want to be on the blessed side of life, don’t you?
I’m blessed because I believe the Word of God. The moment I pray for my healing, I believe I receive my healing, and I know it is mine. But even before the manifestation comes, I’m blessed!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.