(3) Pray boldly. There’s no point praying while thinking there’s no chance of God doing anything. That’s what Jesus means when he goes on to say: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,” (v24). Jeremy McQuoid says: “He is not suggesting the ‘name it and claim it’ theology of prosperity teachers, but seriously challenging us that asking God for things we don’t think he can do is idolatrous.”
(4) Pray with forgiveness. Jesus also reminds us it’s essential we pray with a forgiving spirit towards others (v25) – otherwise, we are cutting ourselves off from God’s power. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling, and an ongoing process rather than a one-off event. It’s a vital precondition for prevailing prayer.
(5) Focus on God – not your level of faith. Jesus begins this section by declaring, “Have faith in God,” (v22). Some people spend so much time worrying about “how much” faith they have they forget the important thing is where that faith is directed. Our faith is not in “the power of our faith” – but in God.
Jon Bloom, co-founder of Desiring God, writes: “We are meant to move mountains – to see the impossible occur through the exercise of faith in the omnipotent promises of our sovereign Lord… If we recognize that we have little faith, let us repent today and join the disciples in pleading, ‘Increase our faith’ (Luke 17v5), and not let God go until he blesses us with an answer. It is a request he loves to grant. Jesus really does mean for us to move mountains.”
