___"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of Him."
1 John 5:14,15.
___"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 3:22.
___"If ye shall ask anything in My name, [Jesus said] I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:14-15.
___"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 15:7.
___"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." Matthew 7:7-8.
___"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22.
___Here we have just looked at a couple of verses on prayer/asking. They all are wonderful promises.
___We have seen that whatsoever we ask, we shall have it. But we also need to realize that we won't receive what we ask if we don't believe. We must first believe.
___Another thing we need to realize is that not everything we ask for is best for us. God knows what's best. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
___Our prayers aren't always answered how we want them to be answered. God's answer is sometimes "Yes," and sometimes "No," or even "Just wait." But it doesn't mean that our prayers weren't answered; for they were - just maybe not the way we had wanted, or when we had wanted them to be answered. God knows best, so however our prayers may be answered, praise our Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ!
___Talking to God by prayer is how we grow closer to Him - by prayer and study of His word. The book "Steps to Christ," on page 98, states: "Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God."
Prayer is so powerful! When one sits alone in a quiet place and prays to God, he/she lays all kinds of trials, sorrows, joys, wants, needs, etc. before God. God loves to hear His children talk to Him.
___"We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun." SC p. 100.
Don't we all long for that? And you know, it's possible. In Christ's strength, we may become those who are kept so near to God that in every unexpected trial we will turn right away to God! And it's a wonderful experience!
___"Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears, before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. 'The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' (James 5:11.) His heart of love is touched by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice...." SC p. 100.
___The privilege of prayer is to all who will take hold of it!! We need to be diligent in our praying. We should let NOTHING hinder us from talking to Jesus! We are to make every effort to keep our minds and souls open to Jesus Christ, with communion between Him and our hearts! If we were really seeking for a real, strong, ever open communion with God, we would take strongly the privilege of prayer!
___Friends, let's not neglect the great privilege of prayer that God has given us to commune with Him each and every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year! Let's lift our hearts often to God in prayer, and always be pressing forward on our upward journey to the great and glorious land where night is not found, where Jesus our precious, loving Saviour and King reigns. He promised us that He is preparing a place for us. He said in John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
___Let's each and everyone of us, by faith and much prayer, keep pressing on our upward journey to the land of milk and honey, the land, Canaan!!
Posted by: Sister K.
