“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matt. 21:22).
I was born again right in the middle of the Charismatic move. I visited a small full gospel church and was filled with the Holy Ghost. I had a lot of enthusiasm and excitement in those days, but I didn’t know a lot about the Bible.
I prayed a lot; in fact, I was constantly praying at the church late at night and early in the morning. The pastor finally gave me my own key to the church! But I didn’t know how to pray. Over and over, I prayed, “Oh, dear God, You see how bad my problems are.” But if anything changed in my situation, it was always for the worse.
I had a plaque hanging in my home that said “Prayer Changes Things,” but I was saved, filled and defeated. It seemed as if everything was going wrong. After a year and a half of this, I couldn’t decide whether to throw that plaque away or just burn it!
I finally thought, The answer has to be in the Bible someplace. So I started searching the Scriptures. Matthew 21:22 is the verse that got my attention. Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
I found a key in this verse that unlocked a door of understanding how to pray in faith. Suddenly I realized I’d been talking to God about the problem instead of the answer. And I sure didn’t want to believe I received my problems—I already had them!
Another key to praying in faith is found in Isaiah 43:26: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” God wants you to remind Him of what He’s already said about your need. So pray God’s answer according to His Word; then believe you receive it by faith. That’s the true prayer of faith!
Father, I put You in remembrance of Your Word. I thank You because You said that by Jesus’ stripes, I was healed. I know You’re faithful to make Your Word true in my life, so I believe I receive my healing!
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.