steps to christ-第15节
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If we regard iniquity in our hearts； if we cling to any known sin； the Lord will not hear us； but the prayer of the penitent； contrite soul is always accepted。 When all known wrongs are righted； we may believe that God will answer our petitions。 Our own merit will never commend us to the favor of God； it is the worthiness of Jesus that will save us； His blood that will cleanse us； yet we have a work to do in complying with the conditions of acceptance。
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Another element of prevailing prayer is faith。 〃He that cometh to God must believe that He is； and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him。〃 Hebrews 11：6。 Jesus said to His disciples； 〃What things soever ye desire； when ye pray； believe that ye receive them； and ye shall have them。〃 Mark 11：24。 Do we take Him at His word？
The assurance is broad and unlimited； and He is faithful who has promised。 When we do not receive the very things we asked for； at the time we ask； we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers。 We are so erring and short…sighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us； and our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest goodthat which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are。 When our prayers seem not to be answered； we are to cling to the promise； for the time of answering will surely come； and we shall receive the blessing we need most。 But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire； is presumption。 God is too wise to err； and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly。 Then do not fear to trust Him； even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers。 Rely upon His sure promise； 〃Ask； and it shall be given you。〃
If we take counsel with our doubts and fears； or try to solve everything that we cannot see clearly； before we have faith； perplexities will only increase
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and deepen。 But if we come to God； feeling helpless and dependent； as we really are； and in humble； trusting faith make known our wants to Him whose knowledge is infinite； who sees everything in creation； and who governs everything by His will and word； He can and will attend to our cry； and will let light shine into our hearts。 Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite。 We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love； but this is even so。 We may not feel His visible touch； but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness。
When we come to ask mercy and blessing from God we should have a spirit of love and forgiveness in our own hearts。 How can we pray； 〃Forgive us our debts； as we forgive our debtors；〃 and yet indulge an unforgiving spirit？ Matthew 6：12。 If we expect our own prayers to be heard we must forgive others in the same manner and to the same extent as we hope to be forgiven。
Perseverance in prayer has been made a condition of receiving。 We must pray always if we would grow in faith and experience。 We are to be 〃instant in prayer；〃 to 〃continue in prayer； and watch in the same with thanksgiving。〃 Romans 12：12； Colossians 4：2。 Peter exhorts believers to be 〃sober； and watch unto prayer。〃 1 Peter 4：7。 Paul directs； 〃In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God。〃 Philippians 4：6。 〃But ye； beloved；〃 says Jude； 〃praying in the Holy Ghost； keep yourselves in the love of God。〃 Jude 20； 21。
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Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God； so that life from God flows into our life； and from our life； purity and holiness flow back to God。
There is necessity for diligence in prayer； let nothing hinder you。 Make every effort to keep open the communion between Jesus and your own soul。 Seek every opportunity to go where prayer is wont to be made。 Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting； faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain。 They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven。
We should pray in the family circle； and above all we must not neglect secret prayer； for this is the life of the soul。 It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is neglected。 Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient。 In solitude let the soul be laid open to the inspecting eye of God。 Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer…hearing God。 No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions。 In secret prayer the soul is free from surrounding influences； free from excitement。 Calmly； yet fervently； will it reach out after God。 Sweet and abiding will be the influence emanating from Him who seeth in secret； whose ear is open to hear the prayer arising from the heart。 By calm； simple faith the soul holds communion with God and gathers to itself rays of divine light to strengthen and sustain it in the conflict with Satan。 God is our tower of strength。
Pray in your closet； and as you go about your daily labor let your heart be often uplifted to God。
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It was thus that Enoch walked with God。 These silent prayers rise like precious incense before the throne of grace。 Satan cannot overcome him whose heart is thus stayed upon God。
There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God。 There is nothing that can prevent us from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer。 In the crowds of the street； in the midst of a business engagement； we may send up a petition to God and plead for divine guidance； as did Nehemiah when he made his request before King Artaxerxes。 A closet of communion may be found wherever we are。 We should have the door of the heart open continually and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the soul。
Although there may be a tainted； corrupted atmosphere around us； we need not breathe its miasma； but may live in the pure air of heaven。 We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer。 Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant communion with heaven。
We need to have more distinct views of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of the value of eternal realities。 The beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of God's children； and that this may be accomplished； we should seek for divine disclosures of heavenly things。
Let the soul be drawn out and upward； that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere。 We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected
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trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun。
Keep your wants； your joys； your sorrows； your cares； and your fears before God。 You cannot burden Him； you cannot weary Him。 He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children。 〃The Lord is very pitiful； and of tender mercy。〃 James 5：11。 His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them。 Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind。 Nothing is too great for Him to bear； for He holds up worlds； He rules over all the affairs of the universe。 Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice。 There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read； there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel。 No calamity can befall the least of His children； no anxiety harass the soul； no joy cheer； no sincere prayer escape the lips； of which our heavenly Father is unobservant； or in which He takes no immediate interest。 〃He healeth the broken in heart； and bindeth up their wounds。〃 Psalm 147：3。 The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare； not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son。
Jesus said； 〃Ye shall ask in My name： and I say not unto you； that I will pray the Father for you： for the Father Himself loveth you。〃 〃I have chosen you： 。 。 。 that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name； He may give it you。〃 John 16：26； 27； 15：16。 But to pray in the name of Jesus is something more than a mere mention of that name at the beginning
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and the ending of a prayer。 It is to pray in the mind and spirit of Jesus； while we believe His promises； rely upon His grace； and work His works。
God does not mean that any of us should become hermits or monks and retire from the world in order to devote ourselves to acts of worship。 The life must be like Christ's lifebetween the mountain and the multitude。 He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray； or his prayers will become a formal routine。 When men take
