The Prayer Of Faith

  By David MacIntyre 

    The prayer of faith, like some plant rooted in a fruitful soil, draws its virtue from a disposition which has been brought into conformity with the mind of Christ. 

    1.  It is subject to the Divine will – “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).

    2.  It is restrained within the interest of Christ – “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

    3.  It is instructed in the truth – “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

    4.  It is energized by the Spirit – “...Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).

    5.  It is interwoven with love and mercy – “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).

    6.  It is accompanied with obedience – “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

    7.  It is so earnest that it will not accept denial – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke 11:9).

    8.  It goes out to look for, and to hasten its answer – “...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Jas. 5:16).