Prayer of Faith

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)

I didn't address this verse at all yesterday, so I've edited it out of the previous post and given it it's own post here.

Imagine Abraham telling his friends about how God is going to give him a son with Sarah. Imagine telling people about that thing you are praying for that seems like it cannot ever happen. Imagine telling them that you know your prayer will be answered.

There is such a thing as presumption. Believing that God has said something he has not does not guarantee he will bail you out even if you tell everybody.

But if your prayer is according to his word and and from a sincere heart he has promised to answer. Abraham could pray for a son because God promised him one. You and I cannot, because we have not been promised. But we can pray for someone to love, watch over and train in righteousness, and God will answer that prayer.

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. (Psalm 45:16)

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:2)

False hope is embarrassing. When you thought you were going to achieve something or have an answer to prayer and everyone knew about it, then you failed. We all fear that so much.
But true hope does not lead to embarrassment. It does not make ashamed. Why not?

Because the love of God has infiltrated (gotten) into our hearts through the efforts of the Holy Spirit.

Big question. What is "the love of God"? Is it "love for God" or "love from God"? Our love for God or God's love for us.

This phrase is used a couple of times this way:

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:42-43)

Where it seems to me that it means "love for God".

But many times it is used this way:

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)

Where it is clearly describing "love from God". So I'll give the second option the benefit of the doubt.

That means we are hoping and praying according to the love God has given us. This could be love for other people, for God himself and even for ourselves. When our hearts are full of love we know better what to pray and hope for, and we are not disappointed.

When someone you love is sick, you probably should not pray simply for their recovery unless God impresses you to do so. You may need to pray for Christ to overcome Satan in that situation, for that person to have peace and joy in the midst of suffering, or for that person to draw close to Christ at this time and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:15)

Prayer is not twisting God's arm, it is the opportunity to know God's heart. When you know God's heart and confess (agree with) him then you can have hope and not be ashamed. But we need to bare our hearts to him with all the raw emotion that we will (and ought) not show to others.