As believers in Christ, our life is fundamentally a life of faith. Faith is one of the greatest distinguishing virtues between the believer and the unbeliever. It was by faith we accepted God’s gracious salvation through Christ and received eternal life—the God-kind of life—into our spirits. Our entire walk with God is a faith-walk.

Paul affirms in Romans 1:16–17 that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, concluding with the profound statement: “The just shall live by faith.” This reveals that faith is not optional for the believer; it is the core of our existence. Hebrews 11:6 further emphasizes, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Among the different kinds of prayer, the prayer of faith occupies a unique place. It has its own rules, principles, and expectations, and understanding these principles positions you to get consistent results.

THE GOD-KIND OF FAITH
In Mark 11:22, Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” The literal translation reads, “Have the faith of God.” In other words, Jesus instructs us to function with the God-kind of faith—the faith that speaks, believes, receives, and takes possession.
Jesus explains this further in Mark 11:23–24, emphasizing the word “believe.” This believing is not mere mental agreement. Even demons believe (James 2:19). The believing Jesus refers to is the believing that acts—it takes possession even before physical evidence appears.
He instructs: “When you pray, believe that you receive, and you shall have.” This means faith takes hold at the point of prayer, not when the result appears. Faith says, “I have it now,” even when the senses see nothing yet.

PRINCIPLES OF THE PRAYER OF FAITH
1. There Must Be a Specific Desire
Specificity is vital in the prayer of faith. Jesus didn’t say, “Say to any mountain,” but “Say to this mountain.” Faith does not operate vaguely. It must have a clear target. If a pastor wishes to double the church membership, he must know the present number and the exact number he desires. If you want financial increase, you must know your current income and the precise increase you want.
Faith needs something definite to lay hold on. The prayer of faith is not about discussing the mountain, nor is it about asking God to deal with the mountain. It is about speaking directly to that specific mountain and commanding it to change.

2. See the Unseen
To operate in the prayer of faith, you must “see” your desire before it manifests. This is done through the eyes of faith, not physical sight. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
God told Abraham to look at the stars and visualize his descendants. He told Joshua to see Jericho already delivered into his hands. Your vision limits or expands your results. You cannot possess what you cannot see. “Seeing the unseen is not optimism; it is calling realities that are not visible as though they already exist” (Romans 4:17).

3. Use Your Evidence
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is your spiritual evidence—your title deed. You don’t need to see the physical manifestation before you know it is yours. Your title deed is the Word God has spoken concerning your situation, and the inner witness the Holy Spirit gives you as you pray. Sometimes, this evidence comes through a prophecy, a scripture that becomes alive to you, or a note of victory in your spirit. When the evidence comes, hold on to it, speak it, and act accordingly.

The prayer of faith is not a religious ritual; it is a spiritual law that produces guaranteed results when rightly applied. As believers, we are called to function with the God-kind of faith—faith that sees the unseen, speaks with boldness, believes without wavering, and acts in full possession of what is desired. When our desires are specific, our vision clear, our evidence recognized, and our confession consistent with God’s Word, nothing becomes impossible. This is the life God has called us to live—a life where faith is not merely believed but expressed, demonstrated, and manifested. Walk in this truth, put these principles to work every day, and you will experience a life of victorious, result-producing prayer.