It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were of no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer; whilst the truth is, in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying; for the less we read the word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.

– George Mueller

Let none expect to have the mastery over his inward corruption in any degree, without going in his weakness again and again to the Lord for strength. Nor will prayer with others, or conversing with the brethren, make up for secret prayer.

– George Mueller

Prayer and faith, the universal remedies against every want and every difficulty; and the nourishment of prayer and faith, God’s holy word, helped me over all the difficulties.

– George Mueller

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

– The Lord, Jeremiah 29:13

I myself have for 29 years been waiting for an answer to prayer… and still I have not the full answer yet. Nevertheless, I look for it. I expect it confidently… and so fully am I assured that God hears me about this matter, that I have often been enabled to praise Him beforehand for the full answer… Thus, you see… I have also, like yourself and other believers, the trial of faith concerning certain matters.

– George Mueller

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

– Apostle Paul, Romans 8:26–27 (NKJV)

The great point is, that we ask only for that which it would be for the glory of God to give to us; for that, and that alone, can be for our real good…

– George Mueller

I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through… the word of God, but I have been ALWAYS directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not patiently wait upon God… or… preferred the counsel of my fellow men to… the word of the living God, I made great mistakes.

– George Mueller

Jesus gives us this eternal promise: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”(Mark 11:24) Listen to this 3-part radio series, and join Jeff Tobler as he builds up our faith in prayer!

Listen to part 2 of this series!

Listen to ALL broadcasts!

Radio Show Transcript

In progress..

Jesus gives us this eternal promise: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”(Mark 11:24) Listen to this 3-part radio series, and join Jeff Tobler as he builds up our faith in prayer!

Listen to part 1 of this 3-part series!

Listen to part 3 of this series!

Listen to ALL broadcasts!

Radio Show Transcript

In progress..

Jesus gives us this eternal promise: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”(Mark 11:24) Listen to this 3-part radio series, and join Jeff Tobler as he builds up our faith in prayer!

Listen to part 1 of this 3-part series!

Listen to ALL broadcasts!

Radio Show Transcript

In progress..

The Lord gives us both comforting and very sobering prayer promises. Have you been taught the whole counsel of God’s eternal promises concerning prayer?

Thus says the Lord: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Jesus promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7)

Jesus promised, “Again I say to you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)

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

Jesus warned, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)

Where’s the promise? That, while the flesh is weak – when we find it difficult to go deep into prayer when the world is calling to us with its demands and our own business — Jesus promises that the Spirit is truly ready and willing.

Romans 8:13 reminds us that IF we put to death (stop doing) the [sinful] deeds of the body, through the Spirit, we will live; but if we live after the [sinful] flesh, we shall die. The promise that you and I can be an overcomer through the Holy Spirit! Crucify the flesh and press into Lord in prayer… wrestle until you receive the blessing!

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13)

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:33-37)

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7)

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16)

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23-24)

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Corinthians 14:13-15)

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:5-7)

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:15-18)

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:22)

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21)

Why then, aren’t our prayers always answered? Why can it feel as though we are not in the presence of the Lord during our prayers?

Is the Lord’s hand unable to save? Is His ear heavy so as not to hear? But your sins stand between you and your God, and He turned His face from you because of your sins, so as not to have mercy. (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives… For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands… Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:1, 5, 7)

But I want you to know that the head of every man [husband] is Christ, the head of woman [wife] is man [her husband], and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. (1 Corinthians 11:3-5)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. (Matthew 23:14)

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:2-3)

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12; Peter’s quoting Psalm 34:12-16 in verses 10-12)

We must tear down the idols in our heart; repent (forsake) any known, unconfessed, willful sin our life and put all of our trust in the Lord for Him to do the saving work. Surrender your will with all of your heart. Fix your eyes of Jesus!