DAY 31

CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER

JOHN MACDONALD, LEAD PASTOR

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. —1 John 5:14-15

In one of my prayer times recently, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that there was a season last year where I was praying from a place of fear instead of praying from a place of faith. These prayers were desperate prayers. While there is nothing wrong with desperate prayers, these prayers were fueled by “what if thoughts”: uncertainty, doubt, and an inner voice genuinely questioning whether or not God was listening. This particular morning, the Holy Spirit convicted me and revealed to me very clearly that I was praying from a place of fear instead of faith.

I want to take you to a couple different passages of Scripture and talk to you about a phrase that I have read before, but until God showed me, I hadn’t caught the deeper revelation. In Mark 10:46-52, we find the story of the blind beggar Bartimaeus. Jesus had spent some time ministering in Jericho. He and his disciples, along with a crowd of people, were on their way out of town. Bartimaeus must have overheard some of the people talking and realized that Jesus was walking by and he began to cry out. Let’s pick up the story in verse 48.

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

—Mark 10:48-52

The phrase I want to unpack here is “throwing his cloak aside”. This phrase “throwing aside” is taken from the Greek word, apoballo, which means to throw something away, to discard, or to get rid of something which is no longer desired, needed, or wanted.

Why did Jesus stop? Jesus was amazed at Bartimaeus’s relentlessness, it caught His attention and He called for Bartimaeus to come. But something was hindering Bartimaeus. Either his cloak was wrapped too tight which was preventing him from getting up, or he was holding on to it too tightly because it was all he had and didn’t want to lose it. Whichever was the reason, Bartimeaus had to make a decision and make it fast. He threw his cloak aside, meaning he forcefully got rid of it. He threw aside that which was keeping him from walking toward his miracle. Every Christ follower has multiple moments like this one where we have to throw aside that which is hindering us from getting to Jesus.

However, in my case, the Holy Spirit was convicting me of throwing the wrong thing aside. You see, sometimes we become exhausted in the waiting. Waiting for God to answer our prayers the way we think he should answer them and in the timeline we think he should answer them. Its, during these times of waiting that we are tempted to say:

“I’m done”
“I’m tired of waiting”
“I’ve given enough to this” “I’m out”

What we are actually doing is “throwing away” our confidence.

Let’s look at another passage of scripture that uses this same Greek word apoballo. In fact, I want you to look for the key phrase “throw away” as you read this text.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay. And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. —Hebrews 10:32-38

In this passage of scripture, God warns us to never quit, never give up, and never shrink back. The author of Hebrews is writing to a group of people who have experienced persecution and loss. In fact, all their worldly possessions had been seized by whom I am assuming is the Roman government. In the midst of these extremely trying times of persecution and loss, we are encouraged to not throw away or discard our confidence.

When we experience times of pressure or desperation and God doesn’t act the way we want Him to, it's easy for us to be tempted to lose confidence in Him and start questioning His promises.

  • Is God ever going to turn my mourning into dancing?

  • Can I really count on God to turn my ashes into beauty?

  • How much longer do I have to suffer waiting for the promises of

    God to come to pass?

  • Am I waiting for something that will never happen?

  • God are you even hearing me?

  • Are you listening?

  • Where are you?

In my case, I had given a place to these doubts, which are really subtle lies, and to others like them, allowing them to take root in my heart. I had entertained the lies of the enemy which automatically caused me to cast off my confidence in the Lord. The very thing God was warning these early believers in Hebrews to not let go of. I realized in retrospect that during that season I was praying from a place of fear instead of a place of faith. Prayers from the place of fear have no power. However, prayers from the place of faith have the power to move mountains.

The writer of Hebrews also emphatically urges us as believers to persevere. Persevere is the Greek word hupomeno meaning to stand your ground, hold your position, or keep your feet firmly planted right where they are. This is the posture we take on when we pray from a place of faith, trusting in the Lord, trusting in His many promises, and knowing that He will never fail us. Praying with confidence means praying bold, fearless prayers, identifying God’s unfailing promises and believing those promises with at least as much faith to match the size of a mustard seed.

Whatever the challenge or struggle you're facing, don’t throw off your confidence! Throw off the lies, throw off the hindrances, throw off anything that is stopping you from encountering Jesus and His promises, but don’t throw off your confidence. Pray from the place of faith. And if you need some direct promises from the Lord for your situation, ask Him. He won’t fail. He will give them to you. Some practical advice, start reading the Psalms and just start looking for His promises. When one jumps out at you, pray it back to the Lord immediately multiple times solidifying His promise in your heart.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, restore my confidence in You! Teach me Your promises. You are my light and salvation. You are the stronghold of my life. You are the rock in which my feet are firmly planted. I declare that all Your promises are true. Teach me always to pray confidently from a place of fully trusting You. Amen!