August Partner Letter
August 2020
Dear Partner,
I define prayer as simply “talking to God.” Depending on what church you were raised in (or if you were even raised in church) you may have been taught that prayer was always a formal request before Almighty God who is to be feared. Regardless of our concept of prayer, having a conversation with God by speaking with Him is a powerful way to start a day, end a day, or present a difficult life situation to the One who has the power to help change it.
Recently, I have received several letters from Christians who seemed to be confused about the difference between praying a prayer of petition and confessing the Word. One person felt if he confessed the Word more than once, it was unbelief. Another individual thought we were teaching that you shouldn’t pray ANY prayer more than once.
I began to realize that we haven’t been teaching the basics of faith or prayer to people and I had assumed most people had read our books and understood the message we have taught for over 40 years. I also realized that new people who had never heard this message before were tuning in to our TV programs and hearing the Word because their hearts were hungry! Thank God, His Word and His Spirit are drawing many to the Good News that Jesus came to DESTROY the works of the enemy!
There are many different kinds of prayer, and prayer and confession of the Word are two different things although they work together. Confession of the Word out loud is to put the Word in your heart by planting seeds. You can repeat God’s Word back to Him. This pleases Him and can be a form of prayer because you are talking to Him.
The prayer of petition or asking for a specific thing is only one kind of prayer. Jesus told His disciples: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24)
I remember hearing very religious people tell me that Jesus only meant for you to ask for spiritual things, not real things, like healing, food, money. God can’t be bothered with that…. Well, if He is our Father, then I feel sure that He wants us to have our needs met, don’t you? After all, He has already expressed what He thinks in His Word, written and through Jesus’ life. If Jesus fed the multitude, then He cares what we eat. He cares about every need both physical and spiritual!
I am praying for you, as I pray for all our Partners during this time, knowing that the same God who split the Red Sea and led the Israelites out of Egypt will lead you into the blessings of God in the midst of this time of trouble in the world. The Greater One dwells in us and we are overcomers!
In Christ,
Annette Capps
Click Here to view this month's teaching, "Praying WITH Power."
- Annette Capps