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).
The tenses must be right to receive from God. Faith believes that God has or God is presently working on your behalf. Faith is never future tense. If you’re waiting on some point in the future for God to do something for you, then you’re hoping and not believing. You’re in the future where hope is, and you’re not in the past and present where faith is. Don’t just hope and pray! Pray and believe God has answered your prayer!
Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). God told Joshua that he had already given Jericho into his hands while the walls still stood high. Before raising Lazarus from the dead Jesus looked to heaven and prayed, Lord, I thank you that you have heard me. He put his prayer in the past tense. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham while he was yet childless. Jesus told the ten lepers to go offer the sacrifice that Moses said for lepers to offer after they were healed. The ten were healed as they went.
Four years ago, God opened up the opportunity for us to buy the current property where Victory Church is located. When it came available, it looked impossible. We began to believe that we receive the property and all things necessary to upfit it for use. Crazy problems arose as we went through the process, and during the entire ordeal, we constantly thanked God for giving us the property and helping us get into it. We believed that we received regardless of the varied kinds of opposition we encountered. As you can see, God is faithful when you get the tenses right!
So, right now begin to thank God for the healing that you believe you receive right now. Thank God for the finances you believe that you receive right now. Thank Him for the circumstantial change and the answered prayer right now when impossibilities seem to rule.
Make sure today that you believe that you receive what you need from the Lord. His grace and mercy are available to help you and you reach out in present or past tense faith!