In June 2025, I acquired a Mastercard from the GBTI bank in Guyana. It had a limit of 2000 US dollars. Although I could use my debit card instead, I planned to use this credit card to purchase a laptop for about 1000 USD from amazon, and then pay it off to build credit score.
The thought of getting a brand new, upgraded laptop excited me. The one I was using at the time was about ten years old. It had served me well, but it was risky to keep using. Although it was still working well, the battery wouldn’t hold power anyone, and it had to be constantly plugged in. It made sense to get a new one with updated features and more powerful hardware.
The thought of using my card to buy the new laptop not only excited me, but it generated the “feeling of ownership” before the item arrived. I had faith in this credit card. The bank that issued it was one of Guyana’s top banks with branches in every region. Further, the bank hired thousands of well-dressed, well-educated, and well paid Guyanese. This bank had money. And I had “no doubt” that they were more than capable of fulfilling their promises.
But what if I wanted something that was way more expensive than my credit card limit? What if I didn’t have the funds to acquire it? Could I pray for it? Certainly? And would my prayer be answered? That depends on my level of faith. You see, many times, when we pray, we’re not sure that our prayers will be answered. We wonder if God will answer our prayer. But what if I put the same amount of faith in my prayer as I did in my credit card? Then my item will be sure to be delivered.
God, the creator of the universe, is exceedingly more powerful than the bank that issued my credit card. He owns more than all the banks in the world combined. Much more. And He encourages us to “ask and it shall be given.” But only when we ask in faith. The bible makes it clear that if we truly believe in God’s ability to deliver, He will. “It shall be unto you according to your faith.”
A man once asked me, “if God gave you one wish, what would it be?” I told him, I’d ask for faith the size of a mustard seed. For if such faith can move mountains, what else can it not do? We must think of God as able to do anything. He’s the one who created the earth from formless substance and controls all the powers of the universe. Yet, many times, when humans approach Him in prayer, they secretly doubt in their hearts.
There may be times when God can reject our petition no matter how much “faith” we put in it. That is when we ask for things contrary to God’s will or when He has something greater in store for us. As humans, we should avoid making “ungodly” prayer requests unless it’s absolutely necessary. We must not pray and ask God to make the rain fall for example. For what if another believer is praying for it fall? Whose prayer should God answer? We must not pray for harm against our enemies or anyone for that matter. For doing so takes us outside of the grace of God.
God hears and answers our prayers. He is capable of blessing us with both material and spiritual gifts. When you pray for things you need, put more faith in your prayer than you do in your credit card. Remember, God loves you more than your bank loves you. Way more!
