(Prayer requests are handled through the Forum. Just click on this forum title, Prayer Requests and post your request.)

Prayer and Faith are very important to Christians. They are part of our personal relationship with our Savior. They go together. You can’t have prayer without faith, and faith is strengthened by our prayers. Only, those who honestly believe their prayers will be answered will enter into this activity. Our faith encourages us to pray because we know that God hears us and will answer our prayers. Our faith is the foundation of our prayers.

The degree of our faith is every changing. Many of us have our faith challenged daily. We listen to what others say; we fall victims to our own analytical minds and doubt our own beliefs; a crisis occurs and we may wonder if God is paying attention; and many other problems challenge our beliefs and our faith. When our faith is weak, we need to pray for a strengthening of our faith. (Read James 5:13-16)

Let God’s word and your own heart guide you. Pray often and ask God to help you strengthen your faith. Exercise your faith by helping others and by expressing the love of God in all your activities. When your faith is at it’s weakest, I recommend you read the books of Psalms and Job in the Bible. These books of the Bible have gotten me through many tough times.

Remember, in Mark 11:24 Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (NKJ Version)

We all know that our good deeds will not get us into heaven. Salvation is a free gift paid for by Jesus when he died on the cross. However, our deeds and our efforts to help others are expressions of our faith. Read James 2:14-26 to see just how important our works or deeds are to our faith.

Study the word of God on these topics and your will learn the power your faithful prayer can have to change your own life, and the lives of others. Just don't forget we must help others and not miss the opportunities we are given. We are often the tools used by God to answer the prayers of others.