"Have faith in God," Jesus said.  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  Mark 11:22-24
 

     How can I ever attain the faith that knows that it receives all it asks?  Jesus pointed out to his disciples where the faith in the answer to prayer comes from and has it's strength.  HAVE FAITH IN GOD.  Have faith in the promise of an answer to prayer.  The power to believe a promise depends entirely on faith in the promiser.  Trust in the person births trust in his word.

     Believing God is just looking to God and what He is, allowing Him to reveal His presence and giving Him time.

     Faith is simply surrender.  By faith I yield myself to the living God.  Faith is fellowship; I give myself up to the influence of the friend who makes me a promise, and become linked to him by it.  And, it is when we enter into this living fellowship with God Himself that it becomes easy and natural to believe His promise as to prayer.  Faith in the promise is the fruit of faith in the promiser.  The prayer of faith is rooted in the life of faith.

     So many of God's children do not understand the connection between the life of faith and the prayer of faith.  As a result, their experience of the power of prayer is limited.  When they desire an answer from God, they fix their whole heart on the promise and then try to grasp that promise in faith.  When they do not succeed they are ready to give up hope; the promise is true, but it is beyond their power to take hold of it in faith.  The lesson that Jesus taught was:  HAVE FAITH IN GOD, the Living God; let faith look to God more than the thing promised.  It is His love, His power and His living presence that will work the faith.  Learn to believe in God, to take hold of God, to let God take possession of your life, and it will be easy to take hold of the promise.  He that knows and trust God finds it easy to trust the promise too.

     God's promise will be to us what God Himself is.  It is the individual who walks before the Lord, and falls on his face to listen while the living God speaks to him, who will really receive the promise.
 

  Oh God, I do believe in You.  I believe in You as the Father, Infinite in Your Love and Power.  And as the Son, my Redeemer and my life.  And as the Holy Spirit, Comforter and Guide and Strength.  I know and am sure that all that You are You are to me, and all the You have promised You will perform.

  Lord Jesus, increase my faith.  Teach me to take time, and wait and worship in the Holy Presence until my faith takes in all there is in my God for me.  Let it see Him as the Fountain of all Life, working with  Almighty Strength to accomplish His will in me.  Let it see Him in His Love, longing to meet and fulfill my desires.  Let is so take possession of my heart and life that through faith only God will dwell there.  Let faith in God each moment fill me.  Amen