Effectual Faith
We cannot talk about effectual prayer without talking about effectual faith.
In Philemon 6 we read that the “communication of your faith becomes effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
The participation with others in the sharing of our faith, in the fellowshipping with one another in social settings, produces power, becomes operational, by acknowledging every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. To acknowledge means to admit the existence, the reality, the truth of something. This acknowledgement releases force, power.
What does all this mean to us as people who pray? When we talk about, when we recognize all the good things in us because of Jesus, we are encouraged, we move to a level of determination that our prayers work. That is really what faith is all about—-having confidence. That is another word for faith. Have confidence that your prayers are releasing God’s power into the situation about which you are praying. Then continue to acknowledge the good things that prayer is releasing for you and the people for whom you are praying.
The more we talk about good things, the more confident we are that good is coming our way. The more we talk about negative things, the more we are convinced that bad stuff is going to happen and that we can’t do anything about it.
Negative thoughts and words tend to immobilize us and, yes, even paralyze us regarding receiving anything from God or anyone else. Think about this for a moment. Who do you as a person tend to gravitate toward—-the negative person or the positive person? The answer is: the positive person. Why do you think that is true? Positive people encourage us, build us up and help to propel us to believing in successful results, even when things look pretty gloomy.
Faith, confidence is produced as we talk about the goodness of God and think on what His Word says to us. He is a God of faith. He is a God of encouragement. He wants us to succeed in all that we set our hands to. When we pray, He wants to hear faith and confidence in His ability to answer our prayers. It is His ability that is released on our behalf. It is not our ability. Have confidence in God’s ability being released to answer your prayers.
Today, make a quality decision that you will be that person who is positive and uplifting for yourself and for others. Make that quality decision that you find good things to acknowledge in your conversations with others and with God. This world right now needs people who confidently know that God Almighty is going to take care of them, regardless of what they see in the natural which is looking them in the face. Don’t let circumstances speak louder than God in any situation you encounter. Pray and let God and His Word speak louder for you and those for whom you pray.