Pastor Bimbo Animashaun
Too many Christians pray without believing in prayer. Someone said, “How’s that possible?”. Yes it is possible. It is possible to “pray” without believing in the potency of prayer.
I have seen Christians who prayed in the past whose attitude showed very clearly that they didn’t believe that the prayer would be answered.
So in such a given circumstance, they just played along. You see, PRAYER is not PLAYING along; it is a spiritual medium through which you project your petitions to God with MUCH ASSURANCE that your prayers are ANSWERED.
Somebody prayed to have a set of twins and when she went for scan after three months of pregnancy, they told her that she’s got twins in her womb, but her first reaction was, “That’s a lie. You’re only kidding me”.
That means in the first place, she only “prayed”; she wasn’t really expecting a set of twins.
Somebody prayed to get a new job and he’s sent a mail to attend an interview, and the first thought that came to his mind was, “Hmmmn. These scammers have come again” WITHOUT VERIFYING.
That means in the first place, he only “prayed”; he wasn’t actually expecting a job.
Somebody prayed for a specific amount of money, and in a week, he received a credit alert on his bank account, and the first thing that came to his mind was, “No, this can’t be genuine; it is fake”.
That means in the first place, he only “prayed”; he didn’t really believe that there would be a financial turnaround.
The list goes on and on! I have seen people gather to pray on medically hopeless cases because they just had to pray religiously; they themselves knew inwardly that nothing would happen and nothing happened.
There are cases where people were saying with their lips that God should take control but in their hearts, what they were actually saying was, “Lord, please take this man home, the suffering is too much for him”.
I know what I’m saying friends because I’m privileged of God to be in ministry. Too many Christians pray without expecting results; they only pray religiously.
You remember when Peter was in prison. Brethren gathered in the house of Mary the mother of John Mark – Acts 12:12
and of course they would have been praying for Peter’s release because the Word tells us that prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for Peter – Acts 12:5.
Then suddenly Peter was delivered supernaturally and he came to the “prayer house” knocking on the door.
Rhoda HEARD HIS VOICE (notice that the faith-filled young lady didn’t even see him face- to-face) and ran back to share the testimony with “the prayer band” but you know what they told her? “YOU ARE MAD” – Acts 12:11-26.
Now these were “prayer warriors” praying for Peter’s release but when the testimony happened, they didn’t believe at first. What an irony!
There’s no point praying religiously without expectation. Real, genuine, authentic and result-oriented prayer is with MUCH EXPECTATIONS not MUCH APPREHENSION.
Those who pray Biblically not religiously don’t receive ANSWERS to prayers as SURPRISES; the ANSWERS manifest as EXPECTATIONS with THANKSGIVING.
The Apostle John tells us:
1 JOHN 5:14-15
And this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We pray with CONFIDENT ASSURANCE and GREAT EXPECTATION that the outcome has been decided in our favour. Glory to God!
I bet you friends; most Christians who prayed for the scourge of Covid-19 to end didn’t really believe that their prayer would be answered; many just played along.
Somebody comes up and says there’s cure for Covid-19 now, then you hear Christians tell the person, “YOU’VE LOST YOUR MIND”. Why then did we pray in the first instance?
That’s typical of many Christians. You see, PRAYING WITHOUT EXPECTING IS PLAYING WITHOUT KNOWING. You must pray with EXPECTATION!
As you pray therefore, these three things must be taken into account:
(1) SPIRIT CONVICTION: Have a knowing in your heart that your prayer is answered.
(2) MENTAL POSTURE: Let your mindset, thinking and mentality align with the realities of your answered prayer.
(3) BODY LANGUAGE: Let your attitude and disposition show that you believe that your prayer has been answered.
Prayer is not a fruitless religious exercise; it is a spiritual transaction with tangible proofs and great results.
Shalom!!!
Source: Bimbo Animashaun Teaching Ministries |Published with permission.
Aphorism CITY 