CBN TEACHING SHEETS
Ask in Faith, Expect an Answer!
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CBN.com
CBN.com
– Five Faith-Building Steps to a Powerful Prayer Life
God tells us in Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
Use these precepts from the book of James to strengthen your prayer life:
1.
Endure: Don't lose heart. Keep praising God for His goodness. (James 1:1-4)
James
encourages us to "consider it all joy" when we encounter trials that test our
faith. That may sound difficult. But as we endure these trials, pressing on in
faith and believing God has our best interests at heart, we will emerge from the
experience "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Often, God allows us to
go through difficult challenges because those very experiences shape us to receive
the answer He has already prepared. Even in the midst of pain, if we can press
on -- praying, standing on His Word, believing His promises -- we will see His
goodness bring us to a better place. 2. Stop worrying: Ask God
for wisdom concerning your situation. (James 1:5)
God gives wisdom
to everyone who asks Him. He gives it generously. He doesn't think any less of
us for asking. In fact, He loves it when we come to Him with our concerns. But
the catch is, we have to ask for wisdom to get it. Too many of us reason out problems
and come up with solutions on our own -- coming to God only as a last resort.
God tells us in Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will
tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." If we come to Him as
soon as we encounter difficulties, He promises to give us His perspective on our
situation. He can show us ways to deal with our trials that may never have occurred
to us. 3. Deal with doubt: Come to God in faith -- and expect
an answer! (James 1:6-8)
When you ask God for help, remember that
He is faithful. When Jesus invited Peter to walk with Him on the water, Peter
was able to do it -- as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus and focused on his circumstances
-- looking at the waves around him and the water beneath him, he sank. When
you ask God for help, focus on His Word and what He is speaking to your heart
to believe for, rather than letting your faith be determined by your situation.
4 Remember: God is not limited by your circumstances. (James
1:9-11)
By the world's standards, wealthy people have the greatest
range of opportunities because they have the resources to make their dreams come
true. They can afford the best the world has to offer, and can gain power and
influence through their wealth. In contrast, God is not impressed by a person's
wealth, but rather by our willingness to believe Him and by obedience in what
He has told us to do. If we are rich in faith, there are no limits to what God
can accomplish through us! 5 Persevere: Keep your eyes on
God, and thank Him for the victory! (James 1:12)
Through persevering
in prayer in each trying situation, praising God and believing in His goodness,
we will build the character we need in order to receive all that God has for
us without being overwhelmed. And each situation we emerge from in triumph is
a small picture of the victory that awaits all believers someday when we receive
the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him!
Scripture references are taken form the New
American Standard translation of the Bible
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