Two Weeks of Praying GraceSample

Single-Minded Faith

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8 NKJV)

We’ve explored the principle of heart confidence. The mystery of the power of a confident heart is embedded in the familiar words of 1 John 3:21–22 (NKJV): “If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him.”

The equally valid inverse of that biblical statement would be this: “If our hearts do condemn us, we have no confidence before God, and do not receive from Him whatever we ask.” This principle is echoed in James 1:5-8. The doubting, wavering, unconfident asker has a very hard time receiving from God.

The testimony of Scripture is that it is not the neediest or the most desperate who see miraculous answers to prayer. Nor is it the pious, self-disciplined, or “deserving” who find heaven’s windows flying open when they pray.

No, it is those who approach and ask with the most confident hearts that see mountains move. And a confident heart comes by having a single-minded faith in the God’s goodness and grace.

This is at once a great mystery and a liberating truth. It means that disobedience, or sin, does indeed damage our prayer effectiveness, but not for the reason we assume. We think God disqualifies us from getting answers from Him when we sin. The truth is, we stop getting answers because condemnation persuades us to disqualify ourselves.

How? Condemnation robs us of heart confidence—the factor that determines our capacity to receive in faith.

It’s why the enemy of our soul spends almost all his time and energy accusing and reminding us of all the ways in which we fall short. Satan (the accuser of the brethren) knows what many of us do not—that a confident, restful, believing heart is the key to keeping the windows of heaven open. It is the vital component needed for God to move His promises and provision into our lives and circumstances.

Prayer of Declaration:

I come to You, Father, with a confident, expectant heart because I’ve been cleansed and made righteous through the blood of Jesus.

I declare that I am received and welcomed and favored by You because I am clothed with the flawless righteousness of Your Son. I now ask of You the things that I need. I have single-minded faith to receive all You have already willingly provided. I do not doubt. I do not waver in my assurance of Your goodness. My heart is confident before You.