Expect Results
When we pray, we should expect results. We do not go through the motions of prayer to sound spiritual. Prayer is an opportunity for God to do great things in your life.
James 5:16...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Prayer has the power to change the natural course of things. It can change hearts and circumstances. It can even turn the most hopeless situation around, giving you a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
We pray because prayer produces results. When you pray, you should expect God to move. Prayer requires faith, believing that as you pray, He hears you. As you commit yourself to prayer, God will teach and guide you in it. And the greatest way to grow in prayer is simply by praying.
Prayer is communion with God; it is not one-sided. You talk to God, and He talks with you, much like meeting with a friend. You spend time with them.
People of prayer are the only people who can represent God on earth. You will misrepresent God if you do not talk to Him. To be much for God, we need to be much with God.
All prayer is based on the word of God, or shall we say, all effective prayer is based on the word. Many times, people pray, but their prayers are not based on the word. Many have frustrated themselves over and over because they do not understand how to pray or what prayer is all about.
Prayer is based on the word, the Bible.
John 15:1-16 - "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Look at the vine and the branches; this speaks of our relationship to God. Prayer flows from a relationship with God. Apart from that relationship, you can do nothing. When you have a strong relationship with God, you can approach prayer with confidence and expect results.
Matthew 7:7-11 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
You must ask to receive. It is not just going to happen; you make it possible to happen by asking. You have not, because you do not ask. We should always be expecting God to move in our lives. God wants to do great things in your life, and prayer makes it possible. Believe God and give him an opportunity to move in your life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that I can always come to you in prayer when I have a need. I thank you for the ability to have a relationship with you. I thank you that when I pray, you respond. I thank you that I can have confidence and get results because you are a God who answers prayer. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.