Mark 11:24
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."
If you have been saved for any length of time, then you have heard of people whose prayer lives were able to make great changes. The disciples saw this first hand with Jesus Christ. Jesus cursed a fig tree because it had no fruit on it, and the next day when they passed the same tree Peter noticed that the tree had withered up and died. That impressed Peter so much that he reminded the Saviour of His words, as if Jesus didn't know this would happen. Jesus then used this opportunity to teach His disciples how to pray so that they also could have a prayer life that changes situations.
One of the greatest needs of our day is the need for Christians to pray, and not just praying but having prayers change things. Lives do not change without prayer. Societies do not change without prayer. The heart of kings will not change without prayer. Healing does not happen without prayer. The problems in today's society is not that God has lost His power, but that the prayer of the Christian is shallow and powerless. Jesus showed His disciples three types of prayers that change things. If you are going to have a prayer life that changes things, then your prayers must have these three things.
The first type of prayer that changes things is the prayer of faith. Jesus said in verse 22, "Have faith in God." This is the prayer of the impossible. One of the reasons we don't see great miracles today is because we don't pray for the impossible. I'm afraid our faith in God has wavered. Christians used to pray for the impossible because they had the faith that God would come through. Where are the prayers of the Elijah's that pray down fire from Heaven? Where are the prayers of the Elisha's that raise the dead to life? Where are the prayers of the impossible? Friend, your prayer life will not change a thing until you broaden your faith and pray for the impossible.
The second type of prayer that changes things is a believing prayer. Jesus commanded in the verse above that when we pray we are to "believe" that we are going to receive it. In other words, don't let doubt stop you from praying. The believing prayer is the prayer that never stops praying no matter how long you have prayed for something. This is the prayer that continues to pray for a request because you believe that God will come through. You will never have a prayer life that changes things until you continue to pray until the LORD comes through. A believing prayer says that it will continue to pray until the answer comes.
The third type of prayer that changes things is a forgiving prayer. Jesus tells us in verse 25 to forgive others when you pray. In others words, pray that God will bless those who have hurt you. That is what Matthew 5:44 tells us to do. The prayer that changes things is the prayer that forgives others, for it is in that type of prayer that our heart for people changes, and others will see our countenance towards them has changed. Let me ask you, who has wronged you? Do you have a forgiving prayer towards them? The prayer of faith and believing will have no power until you have a forgiving prayer.
These three types of prayers are prayers that will change. I encourage you to increase your faith and pray for the impossible. Stop praying for the small portions and get a prayer life that prays for the impossible. Don't stop believing that God can come through and continue to pray until He answers. Then remove any ought that you have in your heart towards others and have a prayer of forgiveness. It is these types of prayers that truly change lives, societies and the world.