Five Conditions Of Prevailing Prayer

By George Müller

    1. Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of any claim for blessing. 

    "If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:13-14).

    "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you" (John 15:16).

    2. Separation from all known sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin (Psa. 66:18).

    3. Faith in God's word of promise as confirmed by His oath. Not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer.

    "Without faith it is impossible to please Him for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).

    4. Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly: we must not seek any gift of God to consume it upon our lusts.

    "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us" (1 John 5:14).

    "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (Jas. 4:3).

    5. Importunity in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting for God, as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest.

    "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain" (Jas. 5:7).