Growing Your Faith - Myles Munroe

April 5

The only way God’s promises will become a reality in your life is if you act on them—and you can’t act on them without faith. The very word promise requires faith. If I promise you something, then you don’t have it yet; you must believe I will give it to you. God tells us, “I promise to do this for you, but it’s actually already done. I want you to believe that what I promise is real. It is already accomplished.”

Start living by the faith God gave you so that His Word can come to pass in your life. People say, “I need more faith.” Faith is easy to obtain: it comes by hearing the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). When you receive the Word, your faith grows. Every time you hear or read the Word and apply it, your spiritual life is strengthened.

You don’t receive the Word of God without being changed for the better. Remember the promise regarding the seed that fell on good soil in Jesus’ parable of the sower: But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:23)

Planted in good soil, a seed will grow because the power is in the seed. Let the Word of God be planted in you and “grow” your faith in the love and power of God our Father.

Prayer:

Father, Your Word is the seed of faith in the soil of my heart. Let my heart be “good soil,” watered by Your Holy Spirit, so that I will reap a harvest for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: You don’t receive the Word of God without being changed for the better.

Reading: 1 Samuel 1–3; Luke 8:26–56

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Growing Your Faith - Myles Munroe

Evidence of Things Not Seen - Myles Munroe

April 3

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV). Note that this verse does not say faith is the evidence of things that do not exist. Faith is the evidence of things you cannot see. These things already exist in God, but you can’t see them yet. Live by faith. God says, “I will supply all your needs. Trust Me to do it.” Trusting God’s Word is faith in action.

If you have been mentally assenting to the truth but not acting on it, you have been living below your privilege. Again, James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” This verse separates mental assent from faith. If you think just listening to the Word makes a difference, you deceive yourself. You must apply what you hear by believing and acting on it. Jesus said to the chief priests and elders, “There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. (Matthew 21:28–31) The second son assented to obey, but never took action. The first son, though initially rebellious, later met his father’s request. We can’t just say we believe; we have to live out our faith by doing what God asks.

Prayer:

Father, You have promised to meet the needs of Your children. Help me to trust You and to act in faith even when what You’ve promised isn’t visible. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: If you have been only mentally assenting to the truth, you have been waiving your privilege.

Reading: Judges 19–21; Luke 7:31–50

-Daily power And Prayer Devotional

Evidence of Things Not Seen - Myles Munroe

Principles for Effective Prayer - Myles Munroe

March 31

Today, reflect on the twelve action steps to prayer:

1. Become Silent: Be still, and gather yourself. If your spirit, body, mind, and emotions are separated, then you will be unable to pray God’s will with singleness of purpose. Silence helps bring you into unity with God.

2. Give Adoration: Worship God for who He is: King of all the earth, your Creator, your Savior, your All in All.

3. Make Confession: Agree with God about what He says to you and about you. Don’t dwell on past sins, but obey God immediately when He shows you that you are wrong.

4. Give Thanks: Offer sacrifices of praise to God for all that He has done for you.

5. Make Supplication: As God shows you what He desires, agree wholeheartedly with Him in prayer to fulfill His will.

6. Specify Petitions and Requests: When you ask God to do something for you, bring evidence relevant to the case—in the form of God’s will and Word—through specific, intentional communication.

7. Secure the Promises: When you petition the Lord, take God’s promises before Him, applying them to the specific request you are making. Then hold onto God’s promises.

8. Plead the Case: Don’t beg or moan before God, but pray intelligently because you rightfully deserve the answer based on God’s promises.

9. Believe: Believe right at the time you are asking that you have the answer to your request, and you will receive it.

10. Give Thanks: Thank God for what you don’t yet see because you believe it is already done.

11. Live in Expectation: Anticipate the answers to your prayers and prepare the way for them.

12. Practice Active Belief: Don’t stop after you have prayed. Get up and look for what you asked for. If you seek and knock, it will come to pass.

Reading: Judges 11–12; Luke 6:1–26

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Principles for Effective Prayer - Myles Munroe

Practicing Active Belief - Myles Munroe

March 29

The last step in our twelve action steps to prayer is to practice active belief—prove you’re living in expectation. It is what Jesus meant by “seeking and knocking.”

In Luke 11:1, when the disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray,” Jesus taught them a model prayer. Luke 11:9 is part of that lesson: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Jesus tells us, in essence, “Don’t stop after you pray. Get up and look for what you asked for. You will find it if you seek it. It may be behind some closed doors. If that’s the case, then knock.” No door or barrier can stop what God has for you if you believe it’s yours.

When the devil tries to hold back your answer, just persist in knocking until the door falls down. This is the meaning of active prayer. Practice active belief and continue to live before God in holiness and truth. God will bless you as you ask, seek, and knock. Use these twelve action steps as a guide to prayer, and make sure your life aligns with God’s will and purposes. As you learn to pray according to biblical principles, you will become a powerfully effective believer.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your wonderful words of encouragement to me. If I ask, seek, and knock, You will open the doors. My expectations are settled in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: No door or barrier can stop what God has for you when you believe and act accordingly!

Reading: Judges 7–8; Luke 5:1–16

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Practicing Active Belief - Myles Munroe

Whatever You Ask for in Prayer…Believe - Myles Munroe

March 27

Believe—this is difficult for many of us. As in the parable of the unjust judge, God says that after we plead our case, we are to believe. This is step nine in our action steps for prayer. Asking, in itself, doesn’t cause you to receive. Read carefully Christ’s words in this passage; this is another mini-seminar on prayer: “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe…. (Mark 11:22–24)

What’s the next phrase? “…that you have received it” (v. 24). When you ask for something, believe then and there that you have already received it. It is possible to ask for something in prayer and not believe. We do it all the time. We usually give up too soon.

Do you believe that what you prayed last night is going to happen Then confess, “Lord, I believe.” Maybe you tend to doubt. You might not be a believer all the way. When you start doubting, be honest, like the father of the demon-possessed boy, and say, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NKJV). We can’t let doubt enter into our prayers. It will shortcircuit them.

When you pray according to God’s Word and believe that you have received what you asked, it will be yours. That is God’s promise to you.

Prayer:

Father, my heart’s desire is to believe You. When doubts rise up, help me to turn to You. Lead me to Your Word so that my faith will grow. I believe that You will help my unbelief and answer my prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: Faith is believing the promises.

Reading: Judges 1–3; Luke 4:1–30

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Whatever You Ask for in Prayer…Believe - Myles Munroe

Persistence with the Judge - Myles Munroe

March 26

Today we continue looking at the parable of the widow and the judge, in which Jesus taught His disciples to pray without giving up. “For some time [the judge] refused” (Luke 18:4) the woman’s plea. Even though the answers to our prayers are not always immediate, that doesn’t mean they are never coming.

Jesus concluded His story, “Finally [the judge] said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” (vv. 4–5). The judge did not cut her a break, but used a legal word: “I will see that she gets justice [what is rightfully hers].” God’s promises must come to pass. The integrity of His name and His Word calls us to be persistent in prayer. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).

Jesus explained, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:6– 8, emphasis added).

Jesus said, in effect, “If a man who doesn’t acknowledge God gives a woman he doesn’t like the justice she deserves, how much more will God, who loves you, see toit that you get justice—and quickly!” God will not hesitate to give justice to His chosen ones, those who have received His promises as a spiritual inheritance.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be persistent in prayer. I know that You are a faithful God who desires to answer my petitions. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: Plead your case based on God’s Word and His integrity.

Reading: Joshua 22–24; Luke 3

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Persistence with the Judge - Myles Munroe

Be Specific in Your Prayers - Myles Munroe

March 22

Prayer is not mumbo jumbo. It is an articulate, intentional form of communication. Step six in our prayer pattern is to pray specifically according to God’s Word for what you need.

Before he presents his case in court, a lawyer performs research so he can provide information pertinent to the case; otherwise, a prosecutor or defense lawyer may object, “Irrelevant!” Similarly, when you bring your petitions before God, provide relevant evidence from God’s Word—His promises to us—and from His very nature.

God has many names in Scripture, and you can address Him accordingly for your particular petitions. If you want peace, you appeal to Him as Jehovah-Shalom, “The Lord our Peace,” rather than Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord our Provider.” If you need healing, He is Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord our Healer.” You can say, “Lord, I need You to be Jehovah-Rapha specifically in this case. I need to be healed. Your Word says that if I love You and follow Your commands, ‘the LORD will take away from [me] all sickness’ (Deuteronomy 7:15 NKJV).”

Therefore, specify your petitions by acknowledging God’s name and His Word. Write down your prayer requests, listing next to each item the Scriptures you will use when you pray.

Prayer needs to be intentional and practical. It’s not something you throw together. When you present your list of petitions, God will know the thought and purpose behind them and will respond. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15, emphasis added).

Prayer:

Father, I pray today for the specific petitions on my heart. I thank You that You hear and answer my prayers according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: Prayer needs to be intentional and practical.

Reading: Joshua 10–12; Luke 1:39–56

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Be Specific in Your Prayers - Myles Munroe

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart - Myles Munroe

March 20

After confession comes thanksgiving. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

Thanksgiving is God’s will for us. Once you have confessed, you can give thanks abundantly because your heart is free. God not only gives you freedom, but He also gives you something to be thankful for. He just forgave you. Your gratitude should last for hours. David was thankful even as he confessed his terrible sins to the Lord. He recognized that God alone could save him from the punishment he deserved. “Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Psalm 51:14–15).

Confession, forgiveness, praise—these are all joined together in one thankful prayer to God the Savior. As a matter of fact, this confession psalm ends in worship.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise….Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar” (vv. 17, 19).

Offering sacrifices and burnt offerings was an Old Testament method of worship. If you have confessed before God, your heart is right and you can offer sacrifices of praise to Him. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise— the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Prayer:

Father, I thank You for freedom from sin. I thank You for a heart that is cleansed to serve You. I thank You with a grateful heart. And I thank You for receiving my praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thought: The Lord’s praise will always be on my lips.

Reading: Joshua 4–6; Luke 1:1–20

-Daily Power And Prayer Devotional

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart - Myles Munroe