Thanking God in Advance

We’ve all prayed prayers that seem to go unanswered, which can make it difficult to fully accept and put into practice today’s verse. We may feel that our prayers haven’t been answered when we don’t get the results we want within the timeline we expect. However, I have found a new way to pray, inspired by Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Mark.

Previously when I prayed, I’d picture the person I was praying for with their current troubles — whether sickness, grief, relationship difficulty, or financial woes — and ask God to help with their needs. Now I begin with asking God to grant the person what they need, and then I thank God for hearing my prayer, trusting that God is at work to fulfill the need in God’s time and way.

When I pray like this, I can more easily picture the person I’m praying for as being healed, comforted in their grief, or freed from some difficulty. Maybe picturing the person with their prayer answered is what Jesus meant when he said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” This new way of praying has strengthened my faith and fills me with joyful expectation. God hears our prayers and will answer them in the way and time that is best.