We didn’t have Sunday School this week because of Father’s Day and a church campout. Originally, I had planned to put together a post here that would go along with the subjects we are covering in the class, but I was handed something I liked even better. At our men’s breakfast every Friday morning our main man, Lloyd, always has a great thought for the group. This Friday was no different and I thought I’d pass it on to you. The text below is exactly as he wrote it. The only thing I would say about it is to ask you to sit back after you’ve read it and do a little self analysis. How would you truthfully answer the questions he asks?

Acts 12:14-15 (New International Version)

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind! ” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel. “

We can say prayers in our mind but doubt in our heart. At times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door!
Is it possible to be a “person of prayer” and yet not have faith? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that God will help us when we pray, do we have faith in His ability to meet our needs? Is our faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers our prayer? As children of God, we ought to expect God to answer our prayers. Do we ask God to do something without adjusting our life to what we are praying for? If we are praying for revival, how are we preparing for its coming? If we are praying for forgiveness, are we still living with guilt? If we have asked God to provide for our needs, do we remain worried and anxious?
We need to ask God to increase our faith, and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Out of His grace, God may choose to respond to our requests despite our lack of faith, but with lack of faith we will miss the joy of praying in faith.

(Thanks Lloyd, great way to start the day. I’d like to throw in Mark 11:24. I won’t post it here. Take a moment and look it up and remember: there’s a difference between believing IN God and BELIEVING God.

Randy)

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