How To Pray The Answer Instead Of The Problem - A Simple Solution
My dream to someday be a mommy began as a little girl. In my twenties, the ovarian cancer diagnosis not only shattered that dream but threatened my life as well. I needed God’s healing – for me and my husband. And yes, I needed a child.
Finding scriptures that promised healing was easy. I wrote them down. I read them out loud. I believed Joshua 1:8 which says I must speak the Word, meditate on it day and night, and believe it.
Our prayers need to be a statement of faith instead of unbelief, which is simply praying the answer instead of the problem. They need to fall into line with that truth, not with the circumstances around us or the lies we could so easily believe.How To Pray The Answer
We need to choose to stand on God’s Word that He has healed us. He knows what we need. His Word is true and we should count on His healing power instead of questioning if He will perform what He has promised.
Many scriptures, including Isaiah 53:5, confirms our healing was finalized on the cross. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
It may be difficult to understand at times but we must realize it is God’s timing – not ours. The battle which ensues can be a struggle unless we learn how to win that fight through prayer.
When we believe that God has promised what we need, He will supply. We will not be anxious or worried.
Let your prayers be with gratitude. “Heavenly Father, you know the future. You knew the end of my story before I was aware of the problem. You promised to heal and restore me before I realized I was sick. I will focus on those promises and not how I am feeling. You will do what You have promised and for that, I thank you.”
According to Matthew 6:8, if God already knows what we need before we ask Him, why does He tell us to ask? The answer lies in Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Therein lies one of the greatest secrets to answered prayer. When we believe that God has promised what we need, He will supply. We will not be anxious or worried. We will pray a prayer of thanksgiving; thereby letting our petitions be made known to Him by thanking Him for the answer He has already provided.God's Promises Are For Everyone
Instead of begging God to intervene, we need to use scripture that applies to our needs and then thank Him in advance for His provision.
The time between choosing to believe the promise of God’s Word and the actual manifestation is undetermined. It could be instant or it could delay, so much so it may seem like an eternity. This period is referred to as ‘the trial of our faith.’ 1 Peter 1:7 says: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried (tested) with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Often, we feel like we are put through the fire with no end in sight. That trial, no matter how long it lasts, is precious to the Father. He is fully aware of what we are going through. He is pleased when we continue to believe Him despite negative circumstances. How easy it would be to say, “Forget it. It is never going to happen. God didn’t hear my cry.” Is there a point when we should stop believing or do we continue praying the promise, which is the answer?
God is not a respecter of persons. His Word is for every believer. “For there is no partiality with God.” Romans 2:11
James 1:6-8 says: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man think that he may receive anything from the Lord he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
When our thoughts and our voice agree to speak faith, we turn our defeats into victory. We must make a concentrated effort not to accept defeat. Remember this is a battle. A trial of our faith. It is our God-given right to have what He has promised. It is ours. It will come. Accept it and watch it become a reality.
But as reality unfolds, we’re tempted to question the timing of His answer or the way He’s providing it to us. It is easy to say: “Well, I guess it wasn’t God’s will.” We are subconsciously saying that God is a liar. “Even though He said it, obviously it was not for me.” God is not a respecter of persons. His Word is for every believer. “For there is no partiality with God.” Romans 2:11
When we realize God does not play favorites and that His promises are for everyone, we can stand assured on God’s facts. Confessing God’s Word does not move God to do things for us. It is already accomplished. He has already moved on our behalf when He gave up Jesus to die for usHow To Pray And Trust In God's Word
However, when we confess His Word, it moves us from a position of doubt to faith. It moves our hearts from a position of “Is it true?” to “I believe it!” Joshua 1:8 tells us that when we meditate on His Word, we will make our way prosperous, and then we will have good success.
Sadly, sometimes it is easier to believe the lies that scream at us than to believe the truth God gives us. Then we conjure up reasons why our prayers may not be answered.
Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions: “How do I know it is God’s will to heal me? What if He has other plans?”
“What if God wants to keep me humble by keeping me poor?”
“How can I know God has forgiven my past?”
Realize deeply, God never has a different plan or opinion. If He promised to heal in His Word, it is a promise we can bank on. If His Word declares prosperity, we have the right to believe for it. He does not change his mind. His will is His Word. Period.Eliminate Destructive Thoughts
Satan also is consistent in his efforts. Doubt is one of the tools he loves to use against us. If he can make us doubt, he has his foot in the door. We may start questioning our faith.
Instead of questioning, we pray the promises which is praying God’s will. When we have the Word in our hearts, our prayers will be in line with the Word. We do not need to worry if it is God’s will. His will is clearly stated in His Word. This is the only way to have a successful prayer life. The understanding of the Word must be first and foremost.
The Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith. (I Timothy 6:12) In the natural, if someone were trying to rob you and take your home away from you, what would you do? You would fight for it with everything in your power.
Yet, when it comes to spiritual things and we are confronted with conflict, we often roll over and play dead. If God’s Word says that we have certain things, then they belong to us. If the enemy, or our negative thinking, tells us differently, we need to fight those thoughts.
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, his response was to quote the Word which defeated the enemy each time.
We must eliminate any image, suggestion, or feeling that does not contribute to God’s truth. Those destructive thoughts are planted as seeds. If we nurture them, they will grow. If we ignore them, they will fade and die. This trial of our faith may not be easy but worth every bit of effort and time it takes to witness the manifestation of God’s promise.Pray The Answer - And Believe It
As I lie on the sofa in intense pain, God revealed to me that my healing was already promised. My job was to believe it. To thank Him for it. To stand strong in my belief and to ward off doubt and fear by quoting the promise. The more I quoted the promise the more I believed it and the more excited I became.
As I waited 14 years to become pregnant, I could have stopped believing the promise at any time. I could have stopped at 13 years or one year. Would that have made a difference? Most definitely. Was I willing to take that chance? Never. Did I ask God why it was taking so long? No. I did not have to. That was not my job. My contract with God was a signed one. He promised. I believed. He signed it with the blood of His Son, Jesus. There was no room for doubt. God’s timing is perfect. Every. Time.Hold On To God's Word
God made the promise and He is a God of His Word.
I hung on.
The more I proclaimed and thanked God for my healing the more excited I became. I did not doubt it.
I chose to believe it. I did not question why it was taking so long. That was in God’s timing.
Whenever I felt discouraged, I would praise God for His promise and thank Him that He would fulfill that promise because it was declared as His will.