I WONDER if my dear readers think much about the great need of prayer? There are several things in connection with prayer that I would like you all to consider.
First, what is prayer?
Second, who should pray?
Third, how should prayer be presented?
Fourth, on what ground need we expect the answer?
Prayer is the mark of dependence In prayer we ask for what we need. The heathen pray to their gods, expecting that they will give them what they ask for, but we know they cannot hear, and they will not answer, arid we know from the word of God that Satan is back of idolatry to keep people from recognizing God. Man is a dependent creature, and he knows that to some extent, but he is often very forgetful of it. We cannot cause the clouds to come and give us rain; we cannot cause the rivers or wells to be full of water; we cannot cause the wheat and corn and all other grains and fruit to grow so that we can get food; in short we get everything from God and we are dependent upon Him for everything.
Prayer is the expression of dependence and we should go to God and ask Him to give us what we need — speak to Him about everything in our path, for we cannot walk, talk, eat or sleep, or do anything, without God giving us the power to do it.
Now we may consider, who should pray. Any man, woman or child may be conscious of great need and go to God about it or, thank God for all His mercies as Cornelius in Acts 10. He was one who had not learned about the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the Gentiles, but who feared God and prayed to God always. God listened to that man’s prayers and sent His servant to show him the way of salvation. God thus met all his need, and beyond what he expected. But the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ knows God as his Father and can ask things of Him as a child speaking to a father.
Next we may consider how to present our prayers if we are believers in the Lord Jesus. In John 16:24,24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24) the Lord said, “Hitherto. have ye asked nothing in My name.” In the old testament times they could not ask in the Lord’s name for the Lord had not come, but now we should always present our prayers in the name of the Lord Jesus; See John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23,13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)
23And 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. (John 16:23) and many other portions.
The last one for us to consider is how we may expect the answer. I only draw attention to two Scriptures in this connection. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:77If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7). You may ask, What is it to abide in Him? It is to keep the place of dependence on, and go on in communion with the Lord; in, that way you will know what His mind is, for He will show it to you.in His word and you will ask what is pleasing to Him. The second Scripture is, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward, God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do .those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:21-2221Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:21‑22).
If our ways ‘do not please the Lord; He will not grant us what we ask. May we who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, seek to do those things that are pleasing in His sight and’ thus we can expect the answer to our prayers. “IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” Prov. 3:66In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6).
Messages of God’s Love 3/19/1905