Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

Jesus had been praying in a certain place. When he had, finished his prayer, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

He began his lesson by telling them what to pray. “When you pray, say, Our Father who art in heaven…” (v.2).
Later, the apostles had another request of the Lord: “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)

They wanted Jesus to give them more faith. But how much faith is required? “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed,” Jesus said. (V.6)

If they had faith, even a small amount of faith, they could have their prayers answered. It is important to have faith.

The Bible tells us that, if we have faith, we need to have it toward God. Make sure that your faith is not in prayer, but in the God who answers prayer “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

The story is told about a good woman whose daughter had died after a painful illness, She went to her pastor and said, “I fear I have lost my faith in prayer.”

She went on to explain that she used to believe that anything she asked for in prayer, she would receive. When she prayed for her daughter, she felt as if her prayer failed.

“I still pray” she told her pastor, “but the old faith in prayer is gone.”

Don’t put your faith in prayer, but in the God who answers prayer.