The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1916-03-18
ABIDING IN CHRIST
Prayer Must Be Guided by the
ReVerential Desire That Is
Always Within Us.

Z
it; thanksgiving and worship ought to
be mingled with petition; but prayer
as defined by the Lord Jesus is asking
God to give or do something
/ Let US 60 step further: Prayer is
asking God to give or do something
within the circle of his will. 1t is TN
| 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 u.s."
! And his will is large circle Saliva
| ton 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 we pray, believe that We re-
ceive them, and we shall have them
LOTu, nave MERCY Oh us. w Hdl W IA
We that should do unto you?" 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
mite. 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
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
in the Bible stands for character.
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-
fed. "Ye ask, and receive not, because
We ask amiss, that We may consume 1t
upon your own lusts." For God to an
swer a selfish prayer would be to cul-
tivate selfishness.
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 glorified. while we are in fell
lowship with God and with one an
other
True Prayer Always Answered.
If We abide in me, and my words
abide in you, we 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, We may ask Christ what we 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.
IF e 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-
preston of God sowish and will. There
is to be no discord between us and
God
But when We stand praying, forgive
if we 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
in harmony with God? Am willing
to do his will? Am | at variance with
my neighbor? Have l an unforgiving