Are you confused by what James was saying in James 5:16? This promise that prayer is effectual, that God answers the fervent prayer of a righteous man can be a bit confusing. We expect certain outcomes, they don't happen and we become confused and maybe even frustrated.
When we ask in faith, when the prayer comes from a heart of faith… God answers. That's the same promise Jesus made in Matthew 21:22: "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Mark 11:24 says "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." 1 John 5: 14-15 says…”this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
Now, notice what all those verses are saying. Those aren't promises that you can use to manipulate God with your praying. The apostle John says, "If we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us." Mark 11:24 says… ”Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Jesus words.. but that not what he meant.
Genuine faith is grounded in God's promises and a true understanding of God's will. If you think God is going to grant a prayer request that is inconsistent with His character; if you imagine that He is going to do something that contradicts His promises; if you delude yourself into thinking He will give you anything that is contrary to His Word; or if you think He's going to say yes to a prayer Effectual, Fervent Prayer request that is in conflict with His will for you it doesn't matter how much you have managed to convince yourself to believe in what you're praying for, that is not faith; it's presumption.
If you pray presumptuously, you're also praying selfishly, focused only on what you want. You treat God as if He is a “granter of wishes.” In James 4, we are told that selfish prayers go unanswered. James 4:3: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
So when Jesus tells us to pray in faith and not to doubt, that's not a lesson about positive thinking. Scripture isn't encouraging us to cultivate blind confidence that we can have whatever we desire.
These promises ought to encourage us to understand the will of God, and ground our praying and our faith not in our own selfish desires, but in the certainty of God's promises; and in the steadfast faithfulness of His righteous character. Have faith, not presumption, when you pray.
So, as James says… "the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Here's what James is saying: your prayer life ought to be the most exciting and exhilarating aspect of your spiritual life and relationship with God.
If you're not seeing answers to your prayers, it's not because there's something wrong with God. The problem is with you and your prayer life. "You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
Learn to pray passionately, persistently, according to the will of God, and the Word of God guarantees that your prayers will avail much.
Important... be prepared to not always see the dramatic results of your prayers, lived out in day-to-day life. God works out your prayers for your good and for the good of those you prayer for. You just might not see it as you expect it or when you expect it. His Will and Purpose is always good... trust that promise and the perfect righteous character of God, and all will be good with your prayer life.
Important... be prepared to not always see the dramatic results of your prayers, lived out in day-to-day life. God works out your prayers for your good and for the good of those you prayer for. You just might not see it as you expect it or when you expect it. His Will and Purpose is always good... trust that promise and the perfect righteous character of God, and all will be good with your prayer life.
