Faith and Prayer

In any study of the principles and procedure of prayer, of its activities and enterprises, first place, must, of necessity, be given to faith. It is the initial quality in the heart of any man who essays to talk to the unseen. He must, out of sheer helplessness, stretch forth hands of faith. He must believe, where he cannot prove. In the ultimate issue, prayer is simply faith, claiming its natural yet marvelous prerogatives--faith taking possession of its illimitable inheritance. True godliness is just as true, steady, and perservering in the realm of faith as it is in the province of prayer. Moreover: when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live. E.M. Bounds

Mat 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

Joh 14:12-14 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (13) Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Mar 11:22-24 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. (23) Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Phi 4:5-6 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Jam 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Well, there is not much I can say about these scriptures. They pretty much speak for themselves. Obviously, prayer is faith's voice. Without faith, prayer does not exist. That is pretty convicting. I know that I am praying daily for God to increase my faith. I want to believe and not doubt. Like the father of the demon possessed boy I cry out to God, "I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Peace to all.
Rob