Life Plan Devotion #117

Life Plan Devotion #117

Mark 9:23 "...If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (NKJV).

     We have looked at 6 of the 7 basic conditions to answered prayer:
1) Pray in the Name of Jesus.
2) Pray with praise and thanksgiving.
3) Pray without known (unconfessed) sin in your life.
4) Pray with the right motive, God's glory.
5) Pray from the place of right relationship.
6) Pray according to the Word of God.
     Today and tomorrow, we will look at the final condition to answered prayer: 7) Pray in faith, believing. While each condition we've looked at is important, without praying in faith, you can meet all the other conditions and still not see the answer to your prayer.
     Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (KJV). Let's look at the Greek word and definitions for each of the main words in this verse. The Greek word for "faith" is pistis. Not only does it mean "reliance upon Christ for salvation," but it means "conviction of the truthfulness of God; constancy in profession of Gospel truth; assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity." The Greek word for "substance" is hupŏstasis (hoop-os’-tas-is), and it means "concrete essence or abstract assurance: confidence, confident, person, substance." The Greek word for "hoped" is ĕlpizō (el-pid’-zo), and it means "expect." The Greek word for "evidence" is ĕlĕgehŏs (el’-eng-khos), and it means "proof, conviction." The Greek word for "seen" is blĕpō (blep’-o), and it means "to look at: behold, perceive, see."
     Think of the most recent prayer you prayed, asking God for something. Think about how you worded that prayer. Think about how you felt, when you prayed. Think about the thoughts you had, after you prayed. With the Greek definitions in mind, for the main words, read my personalized version of "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1; words italicized by author): Conviction of the truthfulness of God is the concrete essence or abstract assurance of what I expect, the proof of what I don't yet see.
     Based on your most recent asking-prayer experience, which of the following applies to you? Think about each question, and be honest with yourself. Do you believe when you see? or Do you see when you believe? There is a difference, and the difference makes all the difference in asking prayer.

What this has to do with weight loss: What is the proof that you are doing well on your weight-loss journey? Is it the number on the scale or tape measure, how your clothes fit, what the mirror shows, or what others say to/about you? What if none of those things were in any way positive? Would you still believe that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it"? (Philippians 1:6, NKJV).

Confession:
When I pray, I pray in faith, the conviction of the truthfulness of God, and I will receive what I expect to receive.

Blessings,
Mary