You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him. - Hebrews 11:6

We usually think in terms of getting answers to our prayers and receiving from God the things that He alone can provide. And that's OK. But there is are more important reasons for building up your faith. We read today about Abraham, who didn't have the Torah (Law) or the prophets words, but who was considered righteous by God because of his faith! Jesus often attributed directly his ability to heal and perform miracles was due to someone's faith to receive the healing and/or the miracle. Faith pleases God! Without Faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. So what pleases God? Your faith! What displeases God, your lack of faith!

In the past, Christians sometimes described praying passionately as 'storming the gates of heaven'. It was a sincere sentiment, but it wasn't completely accurate. The battle isn't between you and Heaven! You have a red-carpet welcome to approach God at any time.

So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. - Hebrews 4:16

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.- Ephesians 6:12

Why are our prayers sometimes not effective? We live in a fallen world, we are in the end times, but don't give up, keep praying, sometimes your prayers will start God working on a situation, and His work just takes time to come to fruition. Things happen in His timing, and sometimes it is just that He says, "No!", often when He does it is because He has something better in mind. Or your prayers good as they may be are clashing with his plan for a situation. God is always moved by the needs of His people, Jesus is famous for His compassion and mercy, but he responds according to your level of FAITH. That is why nothing is more important than building up your faith. So how do you do that? 1. Get into God's Word, this website is a resource provided to encourage that! Start keeping a prayer diary....write down 5 people you can pray for every day. As those prayers are answered cross them out and replace them with another person, you will soon have a record of answered prayer and nothing is better for helping build your faith, than occasionally flipping back in your prayer diary and reminding yourself how many of your prayers have been answered.