The first step in getting what you need from God is to find a Bible verse that promises you what you desire.
Next, you must release your faith at a point of contact.
Faith can be released in many ways. Examples include: when hands are laid on you, when you are anointed with oil, and when you agree with another believer. A common way to release your faith is by praying the prayer of faith for yourself.
Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” What I like about Mark 11:24 is you can practice it without anyone’s help or cooperation. Believing you receive when you pray is the key to the prayer of faith, and it’s not hard to do, but it’s something that is easily overlooked.
After praying, some people think they are standing in faith, but they are really hoping. They are not believing they have already received. They may not even be sure God heard them. Hope prays for an answer, but then says, “I don’t have it yet, but one day I will.” That is not faith.
Neither is it faith to look to feelings.
We often think of Thomas, Jesus’ doubting disciple, when talking about faith in feelings. Thomas wouldn’t believe Jesus had risen from the dead, and even after several of the disciples confirmed it, he said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” He wanted to see Jesus with his own eyes and touch Him with his hands before he would believe.
People who put faith in feelings don’t believe they receive when they pray. They don’t truly believe they are healed until they feel better or until they can see that all the symptoms are gone. If they don’t look or feel any different after praying, they don’t believe they received their answer.
Jesus said to believe you receive when you pray.
Remember, when you pray, you are talking to God Almighty. This is a holy transaction between you and Him. If you don’t leave that place of prayer knowing you have what you asked for, believing it’s done and it belongs to you right then, what are you believing? That God didn’t hear you? That He wasn’t paying attention?
If you can’t say after praying, “I believe I have received my answer,” then you’re doubting whether your prayer did any good. You are doubting God. By doubting after you’ve prayed, you are questioning God’s ability to hear you and His ability to do His job, and that’s not faith.
“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” —1 John 5:14.
The Apostle John told us we could be confident that God hears us when we ask according to His will, and His will includes every promise in scripture!
The Bible is filled with promises to heal, deliver and prosper you. God wants to give you peace, safety, wisdom and countless other blessings. You can pray for any of the promises of God and know God hears you because you are asking according to His will. You can also be sure God hears the first time you pray. He’s not hard of hearing. His eyes are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers (Ps. 34:15).
John goes on to say in verse 15, “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” We know that we have. Now that’s faith!
I have a lot more teaching on this subject in my new 5-message audio series entitled, Understanding Faith. This series is available on CD or USB for $24 or Mp3 download for $16. Look for it at gregfritz.org or call our helpline at 918.749.7744, and get your copy today!
I love how God works. Earlier today I was faced with a stubborn challenge that I had been praying about, but it seemed that nothing was happening. I have been listening to Andrew Womack so I know to pray to the challenge, not to God. (1) I called his ministry and talked with Ruth about not seeing results. She shared Isaiah 42:16 with me. Which is a powerful verse that brought me some peace and helped me see this from a different viewpoint. Then I felt a need to search further and (2) I ended up on a “live ” broadcast of the Orlando Gospel Truth Conference 2020 and specifically in Pastor Greg’s session. I hadn’t heard him preach before and since I entered late I didn’t know who was talking. But I was soon focused on his message. How powerful and reassuring! At one point he had me in tears and it wasn’t even what I was looking for. When he finished I did some research and discovered who he is and ended here on his ministry website. (Now it gets really good. God you are so awesome!) (3) In the blog above he describes “How To Believe You Receive”. He specifically says “The first step in getting what you need from God is to find a Bible verse that promises you what you desire.” Then pray about it keeping in mind Isaiah 42:16, Mark 11:24, 1 John 5:14, and Psalm 34:15.
Earlier I DID JUST That – I found a verse, Isaiah 42:16, and now I know how to pray about it!!
But they both happened within a few minutes of each other from completely different ministries. Only God could make this happen. Thank you, Father. Seek and you shall find.
Thank you Greg for this insight! My heart is greatly lifted.
I heard you speak for the first time from GOSPELTRUTH.TV and was hooked on the way that you teach the word of God. You explain it in a simple way that everyone can understand. I have since made a lot of changes in my life and am more in love with God than ever. I pray that your ministry is blessed more than you could have ever imagined. Thank you for teaching the word without politics.