Prayer is essentially an expression of faith. "He that cometh unto God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). It must be presented in confidence that God has the ability to perform what is requested. "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:5-7).

If we have faith sufficient for our needs, we will never faint under trouble. In that case, we will never cease to pray. The Lord taught "that men ought always to pray and not faint" (Luke 18:1). Paul exhorted that the brethren "pray always" (Eph. 6:18), "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17). Faith will maintain prayers even in times when no answer is heard, and delay causes the heart to sicken. In such times there is inexpressible peace in "rolling your burden on to the Lord," in placing your problems into His hands, in learning to "wait upon Him," in "standing still to see the salvation of the Lord."

The Lord taught that the prayer of faith will be effective. He declared: "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt. 21:22). But the "all things" referred to are those requested "in the name of the Lord Jesus" or those things that are according to his will and purpose. Thus: "This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything 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" (1 John 5:14-15).