Day 11 of Prayer
Confidence in Prayer
Praying confidently is a challenge for many people mostly because we don’t understand the character and promises of God. Whether it’s not praying big enough or having feelings of inadequacy or shame, we can overcome these by understanding who God is and what He says.
How can we have confidence before God if we don’t really know who He is? Seeing God properly makes it easier to pray confidently than if we see Him as flaky, stingy, distant, apathetic, and judgmental. Here’s what His word says about His character:
Faithful: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Generous: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)
Understanding: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Loving: “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15)Noncondemning: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
Knowing the promises of God is also key to praying confidently. It’s about knowing what to pray for and believing we will receive it because His word says it. Here are some promises and expectations for prayer:
Answers: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
Guidance: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24)
Forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Peace: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
Knowing all this will change our approach to God. He wants us to talk with Him. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to know His promises are true. We can pray big prayers. We can go to Him feeling adequate and unashamed. We can do as Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Written by Jonathan Hammond