|
Though God is not bound or limited by the laws which He has set for nature to function, yet nature exists only according to His laws. For example, there must be sufficient sunlight, air, water and minerals before the planted seed can grow. God works according to His laws.
How often we become discouraged and give up praying when our prayers are not answered. Yet, the true reason for unanswered prayers is that we fail to keep God’s operational laws that govern prayer.
Here are some of them:
The Law of A Pure Heart
"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22). "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Ps. 66:18). The Lord told Joshua to stop praying. Why? God will not commune with the soul that continues in sin (Joshua 7:10–12).
The Law of Forgiving
"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions" (Mark 11:25). This is a condition of answers to prayer. A forgiving spirit is so essential that the Lord made a drastic statement: "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions" (Mark 11:26).
The Law of Right Motive
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). A right motive is essential to obtaining answers to prayer. There is only one motive which is right, stated in 1 Cor. 10:31: "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
The Law of Faith
"But let him ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6). "And without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). How often our prayers displease God because they are not made with faith.
The Law of Praying in His Name
"If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it" (Jn. 14:14). What does it mean to ask in His Name? It is asking for what Christ wishes, and God will not refuse His Son.
Let His laws guide every one of our prayers. You can expect God’s answers! |
