The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-24
PRAYING AND BELIEVING.

"Have faith in God," is the language of
our blessed Redeemer. Again, ''What things
soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that
We receive them, and ye shall have them"
1fthese are promises made by Him who has
all power in heaven and on earth;" and not
the power only, but is willing to confer these
favors upon us, then why do ae receive so
few answers, to prayer We are told that
1--WE ask and receive not, because we ask
amiss." We sometimes ask in rather care
less manner, feeling that we desire the
things for which we ask, yet so intensely as
to lead Us to earnestly seek for them. In
this case we cannot expect to receive an an
swer to our prayer.
Again, we sometimes ask and really desire
Gods blessing more than anything else; but
then we look ut our own unworthiness to re-
ceiye and dare not expect so great blessing;
thus we limit Gods power and goodness to
our worthiness to receive. But though un-
worthy. may we not, through faith in Him
Ewho is worthy" expect to receive an
swers to our feeble petitionsp He has said,
''according to your faith. so be it unto you'ii
and again, task and receive, that your joy
may te full" The more contemplate the
plan of salvation through faith, and try to
look into its mysteries the more I am con-
frmed in the belief that there is an infinite
tulness to be enjoyed by all Gods people.
o for more of the ife-giving power Of faith
In the church, then would her converts
be multiplied, and she might truly
appear as "a city set upon hill, whose light
cannot be hid" 1t is said that "eye hath not
seen. nor ear heard, n. ither hath it entered
the heart of man to conceive what God hath
prepared for them that love Him." This. no
doubt, has reference, in part, to the .gories
of the future state: vet believe that there IS
sufficient evidence in Gods word to induce
us to believe that God designed that we
should enjoy great blessings in answer to
prayer. "Only believe; all things are posi-.
bic to him that believeth." And agaiE. ''all
Is yours, and ye are Christs and Christ IS
Gods" Now we see that we may cast all
our care upon Him, with the assurance that
He careth for US; and also that ''if we abide
in Him, and His words abide in US, we may
ask what We will and it shall be done unto
u.s." When we come to Him and ask that
our children NAV be converted, and made
pillars in His church, Is it not our privi-
iege to feel the assurance, as Cornelius did,
that our prayers are cUme up before him,
and that in his own time he will grant our
request; that though "the vision tarry, we
may wait for it,? We read that "Abrabam
believed God, and 1t was counted to him for
righteousness" Is 1t not our duty even to
believe hts promise, rs Abraham did. though
against the natural probability of the thing
ana WreSLe until We prevail, Us Aoioei Wv,
and till our family and friends are converted
to God, his Church revived, and the day
hastened when the "heathen and the utmost
parts of the earth shall be given to him for
an inheritance"
When we thus believe His promise and
trust our all to Him, then will he fulfilled in
us the saying, that "the kingdom of heaven
is righteousness and peace and JOY in the
Holy Ghost.r For behold the kingdom OF
God is within you.' 20 Lord, increase our
faith Morning Star.