Faith Is God’s Operating System

“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8)

Needs drive us to prayer. I am told Manley Beasley used to say, “Needs are God’s messenger boys, telling us that God has a supply.” Our needs are caused or allowed by God to push us to Himself in faith. 

Faith is God’s operating system. Everything in God’s relationship with man functions this way. Faith is dependency. Man has gone independent since the garden. God’s great design is to bring us back to dependence upon Himself.  

One of the evidences of this is the vast number of promises from God in the Bible (over 7,000 which is the equivalent of seven promises per page!) God says “I will do this if you depend upon Me.” He is forcing us to faith because He has designed for us to live this way. Therefore, the promises of God are important templates for us in prayer. We can come in faith relying on these promises.  

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of faith’s absolute importance. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (dependency) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (expectancy.) 

When we accept that God uses needs to bring us to faith, we begin to see the experiences of our life differently. We can now come to Him in faith in prayer, knowing… 

• He KNOWS our needs; 

• He has PURPOSES in our needs; 

• He has PROMISES related to our needs and, 

• He has PROVISION for our needs!

Whatever the need, we can come in faith! And faith is always rewarded by our faithful God! 

Faithful Father, thank You for helping me to see that every need in my life is an opportunity for You to receive glory! There is nothing that happens to me, in me, or around me that You do not know about. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that You allow hard things in my life to grow my faith and to teach me to trust in You alone! But I know that You love me and always want what’s best for me! Thank You for Your promises and for Your provision as I seek Your divine solutions and answers rather than my own! 

Prayer Points

• Pray for opportunities to build up and encourage friends whose spirits may be sagging.

• Pray that the tongue will be an instrument of peace and not strife in your family.

• Uphold those who teach Christian doctrine in your congregation. Pray that they will be careful to teach the truth. Ask that they might communicate spiritual truths in an engaging and effective manner.