For Young Believers

by J. BENNISON | Category: For Young Believers | Aug 1956

Lord, teach us to pray." That request of the early disciples was evidently the expression of a deeply felt need and the same yearning should exist in the heart of every child of God. If we are to make spiritual progress then we must learn to pray. It is of the utmost importance that each day time must be spent in prayer. Our life for God depends upon it.

The worth of prayer is exemplified in the life of the Lord Jesus Himself, and it is from Him that we learn the secret of a victorious prayer-life. Whenever the daily tasks were ended, His wont was to withdraw from men, and from His disciples, that He might be alone with His Father in the secrecy of prayer.

One very important matter, possibly the most important, is that all prayer to be effectual must have the glory of God as its objective. If we apply this test to our life, we shall discover the worth or the worthlessness of our petitions. James, who touches the practical but very important side of the Christian's life, tells us, " Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss " (James 4.3). It is so easy to fall into a rut of formality, praying with little expectation of an answer or to pray, feeling sure that because we want something, God will give it to us, and when no answer comes we are naturally disappointed, and not a little discouraged. It is well for us to realize that God does not promise us unconditionally anything we ask for. Take for example, those precious words of the Lord, "Ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15.7), but note carefully the conditions,-" If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you." There is the secret! In all real, effectual prayer there are beside other things, three important principles to be obeyed, and I venture to quote them briefly.

Firstly: We should pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To pray in His name is to pray relying upon what the Lord Jesus is and what He has done; to pray on the ground of our Lord's acceptability with the Father (John 14.13; 15.16; 16.23, 24, 26).

Secondly: We should pray that in all things God shall be glorified. The chief purpose in prayer is the glory of God, "Whatsoever ye ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son " (John 14.13).

Thirdly : We should pray with hearts cleansed from sin. " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear"(Psalm 66.18).

We are to come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help us in time of need (Hebrews 4.16), remembering too what the Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11.9, 10).

In one sense all prayer is communion between the soul and God, embracing all approaches to God, whether in adoration, supplication, or appeal for divine aid, or offering to God in worship. In a narrower sense it has to do more with our needs. Indeed it has been well said that-" In prayer we are occupied with our needs, in thanksgiving we are occupied with our blessings, and in worship we are occupied with the Lord Himself." But of that we wish to say more later.

How easily we can drift into using " vain repetitions," which have no profit in them and are condemned by the Lord (Matthew 6. 7)! But the supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working" (James 5.16). A "righteous man" is one whose heart is right with God and does right. God cannot condone sin. Elijah is referred to in that very passage. He is a fine example of what I mean. Before he went up to Carmel to intercede with the Lord he removed from the scene the prophets of Baal. Once again James comes to our aid, when he writes, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ... purify your hearts... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall exalt you" (James 4.8, 10). God has promised much in answer to the prayer of faith; how much we cannot tell.

May we then pray with greater earnestness, and experience what we have so often sung:

"Oh the pure delight of a single hour

That before Thy throne I spend,

When 1 kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

I commune as friend with friend."

J. BENNISON | Aug 1956
For Young Believers