The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-29
ABIDING IN CHRIST
Prayer Must Be Guided by the Reverential Desire That Is
 Always Within Us.

not worship. Praise ought to go with it; thanksgiving and worship ought to be mingled with petition; but prayer as defined by tho Lord Jesus Is asking God to give or do something. Ask and ye shall receive" "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." Gods gifts we need, but more than gifts we need the Giver.
 Let us go step further: Prayer is asking God to give or do something within the circle of his will. It Is un- thinkable that God should give or do something outside the circle of his will. That would be immoral
 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" And his will is a large circle. Salva- tion for the lost is the will of God The Holy Spirit for service is the will of God. Workers for the harvest field is the will of God Pray that they may be sent forth.
 Another step: Prayer is asking God to give or do something within the cir Gle of his will specified by human wish and will What things soever ye de- sire, when ye pray, believe that ye re- ceive them, and ye shall have them" Lord, have mercy on us." What will ye that l should do unto your" Lord, that our eyes may be opened" Then, "straightway they received their sight"
 Prayer Must Be Specific.
 The Lord waited for the general wish to be specified; and in order for prayer to be answered it must be def- nite. The man who came at midnight asked for three loaves-not for four loaves, but three; and he pleaded for the three because that was what he needed.
 General prayers amount to little They may be helpful as a spiritual ex- ercise; we may get sort of reflex blessing from them; but the prayers that secure the gift and act of God are very definite Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" Focalize your prayers and tell God ex- actly what you want.
 Again: Prayer is asking God to give or do something within the circle of his will, specified by human wish and will in the name of Christ. Of course for the sake of Christ, but that Is not all of it. In the name of Christ means within the character of Christ Name" 1 tn, Prayer within the circle of Gods will is in the character of Christ. And ask ing the Lord Jesus Christ to do some thing outside the limitations of his character is equally incongruous Bring your desire, your definite need. to the test of the character of Christ.
 A step further still: Prayer IS ask ing God to give or do something with in the circle of his will, specified by human wish and will, in the name of Christ, that the Father may be glori- fled. "Ye ask, and receive not, because | ye ask amiss, that ye may consume 1t | upon your own lusts." For God to an- swer selfish prayer would be to cul- tivate selfishness. For God to give what you wish to consume upon your own pleasures would be to pander to a worldly spirit.
 Finally: Prayer is asking to give or do something within the circle of his will, specified by human wish and will. in the name of Christ, that the Father may be glorifed, while we are in fel- lowship with God and with one an- other.
 True Prayer Always Answered.
 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" If you are abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine; like the branch asking the vine for sap and life, that it may be fruitful and use- full, ye may ask Christ what ye will, for there is no discord between the will of the branch and the will of the vine, and no discord between the branches themselves.
 "1f ye abide in me" That means more than childlife. The child can be five thousand miles away from the parent and yet live; but if the branch is thousandth part of an inch away from the vine, it dies. Branch-life means abiding life; and if you are in harmony with God, Gods thoughts and Gods will and Gods purpose circulat- ing through your spiritual arteries and veins, what you ask for will be the ex- pression of Gods wish and will. There is to be no discord between us and God.
 But when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any" There is to be not only harmony with Christ, but harmony with Christians, harmony with your fellows. The unforgiving spirit prevents an answer to prayer. When you pray, stop and think: Am l in harmony with Gcd? Am l willing to do his will? Am l at variance with my neighbor? Have 1 an unforgiving spirit towards anybody? If so, bring that under the blood and have God