Can you ask with Mary’s faith?

Mary’s request for Jesus to make more wine for the wedding party was unusual because He told her it wasn’t His time to reveal Himself to the world. Her response was to assume that He would do what she asked. And He did.

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:3-5)

Her determination to see results changed God’s heart. The very first public miracle was supposed to be something else, but Mary changed it. That’s how effective our prayers can be.

Notice that she didn’t beg or plead. In her mind, this was something that needed to be done and she knew He could do it. He just needed to be asked. Really, she didn’t even ask, she just told Him they needed wine.

Imagine going to God with that kind of determined trust, that all you have to do is ask and know that He will answer. You can’t doubt, you have to know. That’s what a son or daughter can do.

If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:14)

Does your knowledge of God mean that He will answer prayer for you? Probably not. Does your hope that He will answer prayer get you answered prayer? Probably not. So what does? Faith. Faith is not hoping that God will answer, it’s knowing that He will.

If you’re holding a pitcher of ice water on a hot day and your child comes to you with an empty glass, does he hope you’ll give him water, or does he know without a second thought that you’ll give him water?

God has everything you need, He just wants you to come to Him for it. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Phil 4:6) And when you do, relax in faith that your Dad has it worked out. He’s very clever and will not only do what you need, He’ll add a cherry on top.

Settle it in your heart right now that you know God will be what you need Him to be. Emmanuel is God with us. Imagine Him by your side listening and nodding as you talk to Him. He is with us and promises to take care of us. You block all His blessing when you doubt, but your decision to believe will open the door of heaven to you.

Your faith can move mountains.

When we live in the kingdom, we are family. We’re here for each other to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. But we have to balance our desire to ask others to pray for our needs with our own faith to believe God.

I know people who take every prayer request to prayer partners, prayer groups, pastors — anyone who will be patient enough to listen to them. Every need in their lives must be prayed for by other people. When I see this, I see that the person asking for all this prayer has no confidence in their own faith.

Did Jesus die on the cross for our sins? Did He rise again in victory over powers and principalities? Did He give us all authority to move mountains? The answers are either all yes or all no. If they are yes, then they are yes for everyone who has received salvation through the blood of Christ.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16) What makes prayer effective? Faith. Trusting God to do what He promised He would do — answer our prayers and meet our needs. If it takes other people to do that for you, then you have not come into a relationship with Jesus. To know Him is to love Him and trust Him.

Please not assume that we should not ask for prayer from our prayer partners. That is not my point. I believe we should join together with others who know how to  speak to the mountain and make it move, but we should know that we have the faith to do it within us.

God will listen to you as lovingly as He listens to anyone. Trust your faith and let God prove Himself to you. You may see sudden breakthrough that you’ve been waiting for.

Affirmation builds faith.

To build yourself up in faith means that you have to do something to increase your faith. See if this helps:

I know that Jesus died and rose from the dead — for me.

I know that I have asked Jesus into my heart to be my Lord and Savior.

I know my sins are forgiven and I am clean.

I know that I am filled with the Holy Spirit.

I know I belong to God.

I know He loves me passionately.

I know I am rooted and grounded in His love.

I know God has a destiny for me that I will love.

I know that I have peace because I have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I know all of heaven is open to me.

I know I’ve been given all wisdom.

I know I have all authority to speak in Jesus’s name.

I know the devil must leave me when I rebuke him.

I know that I can pray for the sick and they will get better.

I know I can pray for miracles to happen, because God loves me.

I know I can ask for more from God and He will give it, because He wants to bless me.

I know that God wants to bless me.

I know that He is a good Father.

I know that nothing is impossible with God.

I know He can do anything…anything.

Never think that you can’t do what’s in your heart. The destiny that God has given us lives in our hopes and dreams. Does it seem impossible to do? Probably. We’re always called to go up higher and we never feel ready to do that.

But we’re equipped, whether it feels like it or not. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Eph 4:7) We have all the grace we need for what we’ve been called to. And it’s not like there’s barely enough. God is a God of abundance.

God is a God of abundance

Remember when Jesus told Peter and John to cast their net to the other side of the boat because they hadn’t caught any fish? (John 21:6) They pulled in 153 large fish. It was such and impressive catch that the number was recorded. Not only was the catch unusually large, but the net was safe from damage.

God thinks of everything you need. You have more than enough for what’s in your heart. God’s grace will open doors and keep you safe. All you have to do is thank Him, trust Him, and walk on water.

It’s easy to be discouraged when it seems like it’s taking an eternity to see answered prayer, whether that’s actually weeks or years. Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7) That’s a promise. He absolutely promises to answer, but you have to be faithful to believe that He will.

Good things come to those who wait.

Look at your promises like presents under a Christmas tree. There they all are, all wrapped up in gorgeous bows, glittering with divine expectation. You know exactly what’s in some of them. You can pick them up, shake them, and  listen for telltale assurance. Some are a mystery and will be a complete surprise when you get to open them.

Each gift comes with a tag that says, With All My Love, Jesus. The gift has been given. It’s yours. It has your name on it. You can go to it and look at it anytime you want, because it has been given. You are just waiting for the time it can be opened.

Every time you go to look at those gifts, thank God for giving it, just as you would thank anyone who gives you a gift. You don’t wait until you open it to thank them. Enjoy the fact that God has blessed you with the gifts that you asked for, and more than you haven’t. I think there might be something connected to our level of thankfulness and the length of time we wait to open them.

Do you have presents under the tree? Go pick up each one and thank God for giving it. Let the anticipation of opening it flow out through gratitude that God loves you so much.

We all need to grow in faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. It is impossible to thrive in the kingdom. We’ve all been given a measure of faith, but how do we grow it?

Faith is just a reminder of who God is.

Is He omnipotent? Yes. He is all-powerful and fully, completely, and happily able to do anything we ask.

Is He kind? Yes. His heart is soft toward us. He wants to be a Father to us to meet all our needs and bless us.

Is He loving? Yes! It is His desire that no one be lost. He wants to see everyone saved. Everyone.

Is He faithful? Yes. He promises to be with us always. He will never leave us alone. Ever.

Is His word true? Yes. His promises are true. Is is God and cannot lie. Satan is the liar, not God.

Is He generous? Yes. He is the God of abundance. His blessings are full up, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

When we remember how big, kind, loving, powerful, and good that God is, faith comes naturally. Of course He can and will do what we ask. It’s who He is. Put that first in your mind and believe Him to be who He says He is, and expect amazing things to happen when He proves Himself.