June 4

Conditions for effective prayer

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8).
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss” (James 4:3).
“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God”(1 John 3:21).

Do you want to have your prayers answered? Walk so that your own heart condemns you not. The obedient child that lives in complacent affection with its parent has no fear in coming up to ask for favors. It knows it will get them. Its own heart does not condemn it. “If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” I defy any man to separate confidence from obedience. If you will not be obedient, you cannot have confidence.


I challenge any Christian to tell me that he can go up to the throne of God in faith for any blessing when his own heart condemns him. He knows he cannot. He has first to get that state of condemnation taken away before he can exercise faith for any blessing. Walk in the light, and then you shall have fellowship with Him, and His blood will cleanse you from all sin. The Spirit will teach you how to pray, and what to pray for, which the great mass of professors know nothing about.
—Catherine Booth.

Why, why is Heaven silent still
When I have prayed so long?
Ah! answerless the silence speaks,
And tells me that the heart that seeks,
The heart, the heart is wrong.
—Paget Wilkes.

The prayer-hour is left standing before God till the other hours come and stand beside it; then, if they are found to be a harmonious sisterhood the prayer is granted.
—George Bowen.

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