praying effectively: Repent and Believe (gospels)

(Matthew 3:1-3)  Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

(Matthew 4:17)  From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(Mark 1:14-15)  Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

(John 6:29-40)  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

(Luke 13:1-5)  Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

(John 12:16a)  While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we repent of our sins, which is to spiritually get ready for either our earthly deaths, the rapture, or for Christ's second coming for those unbelievers going into the Tribulation (Mt.3:2-3)
- that we repent of our sins (Mt.4:17. Mk.1:15, Lk.13:3, 5)
- that we believe in the gospel (Mk.1:15)
- that we believe in Jesus (Jn.6:29)
- that Jesus came to die for our sins and rise again so that anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life (Jn.6:37-40)
- that we believe in the Light so that we become children of Light (Jn.12:16a)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your work on the cross and making salvation possible.  Thank You that You are our perfect example of how to be obedient to God's will.  Thank You for Your light, and that no matter how dark it may seem to get, anyone who believes in You will have Your light.  You already have had victory over death and darkness - and in You - we have Your victory.