Praying in Faith

My Bible reading plan has me in 1 Chronicles (and other place) right now. Although the first few chapters are mostly genealogies, there are encouraging bits and pieces here and there. First Chronicles 5:20 states, "And when they [the  Rubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh] prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given over into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him."

Notice that the Chronicler attributes their success not to their ability or size of their army, but to the Lord's response to their prayer. What makes this remarkable is that he has already described the army. He states they were "valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew a bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war" (1 Chr. 5:18). Their power to prevail was not rooted in their own power.

Whether the army they fought was bigger, we are not told. But the battle must have been intense. Notice that it says they "cried out to God" and that "he granted their urgent plea." The battle wasn't a walk in the park. These were valiant men, experts in war. They were able and willing, yet their pleas to God were urgent. I don't imagine them to be cowards curled up in the fetal position in a foxhole asking God to get them out of trouble. These were men who were in the heat of battle praying for strength or wisdom or both.

Their prayers won the day because they trusted the Lord to answer. The author of Hebrews states, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Heb. 11:6). Paul touches on the importance of the Word to our faith. He states, "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? . . . So faith comes from hearing the, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:13-17).

Reading Scripture, studying it, meditating on it, memorizing it, hearing it read, taught, or preached has the potential to grow our faith--if we act upon it. As faith grows, prayer grows. I am convinced that a person's prayer life is directly proportional to their faith in God. If you believe there is a God, and that he rewards those who seek him, then you will seek him. You will not only seek him in weakness, but even when you feel absolutely capable of handling by yourself.

Truths to remember:

1. There is God.

2. He answers prayers prayed in faith.

Will you call out to him in prayer? John says, "And this is the confidence 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" (1 John 5:14-15). Let 2016 be a year of faithful prayer.