Categories
Faith

Answered prayers

vtONE group prayerWhen the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:20-22 ESV)

Over the past several months, I’ve learned more about prayer than in the rest of my life combined. I’ve seen so many prayers answered that there’s no way that I can deny what God is doing in this time and place. I’ve also learned to have faith that God will answer our prayers in bigger ways that I can imagine. God sees through our words to the heart, and he is moved not by elaborate words but the deepest desires of our hearts. Do you believe that He will answer your prayers?

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

Here are some highlights of answered prayers from the past six months: Someone that I had been praying would come to know Christ for about six months did. I had another two people that I felt I should start praying for several months ago, and one of them has gotten right with God, grown amazingly, and is trying to help the other guy I’ve been praying for. We’ve seen more answered prayers through vtONE this year than ever before–relating to getting people praying together, how groups work together, how people see vtONE.

I started writing down what I’ve been praying for on November 13. The first list of things that I was praying for has over 20 things on it, most of them being big things, and all but two have been answered! God is working powerfully, and I believe that He can do anything that we ask through prayer.

You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2b ESV)

Get yourself right with God and then get yourself praying! God makes us righteous if we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness (see 1 John 1:8-9).

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:13-18 ESV)