Zacharias was told he would have a son and he was fearful and disbelieving. As a result he was made unable to speak until the baby was born.
Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in Galilee because of their unbelief. If you are not seeing miracles when you pray, check for unbelief being present!
Look at Mary’s response when the angel told her when she was probably 15 years old and unmarried that she was going to have a baby. She wondered at the process but she wasn’t fearful even knowing that in her culture an unmarried mother could be stoned. It was explained to her exactly as the angel had explained to Zachariah, V 38, but she simply believed. It took more faith to believe you were going to be pregnant and unmarried than it did for an old married couple to have a child.
Whatever you are facing today, remember to focus on the promise and not the problem. Speak out the promise. Find the Scripture that addresses your problem and speak that out in faith.
Here are some quick verses that address some common problems. Believe them and speak them aloud and keep quiet about the problem so God can work in the atmosphere of faith.
For unsaved or lost family members, speak out Jer. 31:16-17 (NIV):
16 “This is what the Lord says:
“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.”
For sickness, disease or suffering, speak out Psa. 103:3-5 (NIV):
1 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
For justice, speak out Psa. 103:6 (NIV):
"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed."
Look at the answer – not the problem and you will see answers to prayer. That is the promise of Jesus!
“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours” (Mk. 11:24 NLT).
How incredible that God moves when we speak His word over our circumstance. “His word is living and active”.