A Way to Pray That Works

My niece Ruth Ann had a deep desire to win souls to the Lord. Then she discovered the book Prayer Strategy by Ruth Shinness that encourages praying scripture as though we believe it. For instance, Mark 1:17 says, "'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" Ruth Ann began to boldly pray, "Because I follow after You, Jesus, You have made me to become a fisher of men."

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses," would be prayed, again with faith, "Thank You that I have received power, for the Holy Spirit has come upon me."

After Ruth Ann began praying these and other scriptures regularly, her faith grew and she began to see the Lord fulfill His Word. During that first year she and her husband brought more than 70 people to Jesus through personal evangelism.

Is such praying being presumptuous? Only if we are praying outside of the Father's will. When the answer to all our prayers is for more of God and His will in our situation, then He invites us to come to Him with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and ask anything (John 14:14; 16:23, 24).

When Ruth Shinness has a special need, she looks for scriptures that will apply and meditates on the Word instead of on the problem. The bigger the concern, the more time she spends praying the scriptural promises. She reads the scriptural prayer, puts her mind on the Lord, and meditates on the victory that has already been won for her.

Superficially, it may seem that this type of praying is a shortcut to effective prayer, yet Ruth Shinness calls such praying a warfare. Faith is the victory that overcomes (1 John 5:4), and praise increases our faith. Boldness in stating we believe terrifies our already defeated enemy.

Thank You, Jesus, that praying Your Word as though I believe it stirs my faith.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24).