>Prayer is our most basic expression of faith. When we pray, we express our belief that God exists and that he can and will intervene in the world. That makes faith the essential building block for prayer. It takes faith to pray; without faith, prayer is useless.

A couple of examples.

One time a man asked Jesus to heal his son. When he did so, he used the word if. Jesus picked upon on the uncertainty right away and grilled the guy about it. “‘If you can’? Jesus said. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” They poor guy was honest enough to admit, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

On another occasion, an army officer asked Jesus to heal his servant. When Jesus got up to go to the man’s home, he told Jesus to stay put. “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus marveled at the man’s faith and singled it out for attention. The centurion has been our best example of praying faith for 2,000 years.

So here’s the question: When you pray, are you more like the first man (“help my unbelief”) or the second (“just say the word”)? Do you believe anything will happen when you pray? If not, why pray? If so, why worry?

When you pray—

• Realize that God actually hears every word you say.
• Remember the mighty things God has done in the past.
• Know that God cares for you and has your best interest at heart.
• Expect God to respond.

>Most of the Christians I know don’t talk about their faith with anyone outside of church or home. I’m not going to cite statistics in support of that statement or defend it in any way. I think it’s true. And I think most people agree that it’s true.

Neither will I defend the statement that Jesus wants us to spread the faith to others. This is the Christian mission in the world.

So there’s a disconnect. Jesus wants us to share our faith. Most of us are silent about what we believe. There could be a number of reasons for that. It is possible that—

• We have bought into the notion that faith is an entirely private matter.
• We understand that evangelism is a spiritual gift that we don’t have.
• We have been turned off by well-meaning but overbearing people who have set a poor example in faith sharing.
• We have difficulty talking about any deeply personal subject with others.
• We don’t care whether other people know Jesus or not.

I’m convinced that faith sharing is not only an important part of being a Christian, it is also a spiritual practice that greatly enhances our own growth. Our faith becomes stronger when we share it with others.

One of the best ways to share your faith is to tell your story—what we used to call giving your testimony. What happened when you met Christ? How has your life changed? In what ways has God worked in your life?

Here’s why sharing your faith story is a powerful way to bring others to Jesus.

Your Story Is Interesting

People stories are inherently interesting, and yours is no exception. Just as babies seem to love watching other infants, all of us are fascinated by the life stories of others. When you tell your story, you automatically gain interest.

Your Story Gives Hope

We believe that we are unique, and in some sense that is true. Yet our stories are shared by many, many other people. Do you think that no one else has experienced your troubles, temptations, or failures? You’re wrong. When you talk about your victory, you give hope to someone. Maybe not to everyone, but to someone.

Your Story Is Irrefutable

When we talk about doctrine, religious ideas, or even historical facts, others have the freedom to disagree. They can refute what we say, argue the facts, or attack our logic. But nobody can argue with a story. Who is going to tell you that Jesus did not forgive your sins? Your experience is valid. When you share it, you communicate truth in a way that may attract even the most ardent skeptic.

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All living things grow, and that should include you. Here are the spiritual practices that will ensure that the seed of faith that has been planted within you will grow into a strong, healthy new life.

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>Most of us probably pray when we need help with some aspect of our lives. We also ask one another for prayer frequently. Yet we less often report the results of that prayer. it is possible that we think of prayer itself as therapeutic, which it is, without expecting that there will be a result from our prayers.

So it is important that we share answers to prayer as well as requests. Talking about the results of our prayers does several things.

1. You are reminded that God does indeed answer prayer.
2. You acknowledge that you are dependent on God.
3. The faith of others is strengthened.
4. God is given the credit he deserves. 
5. Others are encouraged to pray.

I had two prayers answered this week. I won’t give specifics here because the prayer requests involve personal issues, one for my family and one for a member of my congregation. I am thankful that God heard  my prayer, along with that of many others, and chose to respond.