Everything by Prayer (
by J. Irvin Overholtzer
ASKING
The first law of prayer is asking. God knows our needs, of
course. Then why does He not supply them
whether we pray or not? …Asking God for
the things we need is just and right, for all things belong to God. Should we
not ask the owner of them if we want them?
The Second Law-ASKING
IN THE WILL OF GOD
No good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). Our God is glad to give us, through prayer, anything
and everything that would be good for us. But in our shortsightedness, we often
ask for things that would prove harmful if we received them. Should God give us
these? Would He be kind if He did? Surely not. Is this not one reason why there
is so much unanswered prayer?
The Third Law-ASKING
IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
In John 14:14, we have a most wonderful prayer promise, “If
ye ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus, in all of His glorified
omnipotence, stands ready to keep this promise if it is claimed in faith. This
promise has been so generally known that scarcely a prayer is uttered without
the expression “In Jesus‟ name,” or some similar expression being made a part
of the prayer. …Christ is the believer‟s High Priest, and none can come to God
except by Him.
The Fourth Law-ASKING
IN FAITH
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not
that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6, 7). In
order to have and hold a faith that does not waver it must rest on something
secure. It must rest on the Word of God.
The Fifth Law-ASKING
BY A RIGHTEOUS MAN
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much” (James 5:16). This text imposes righteousness as a condition to answered
prayer. Of course, we must have the imputed righteousness which becomes ours
when we believe in Christ or we could not have answered prayer at all. But does
this text refer to that righteousness? It certainly does not…
While we remain in this state of rebellion or neglect, our
Father cannot bless us or answer our prayers. To confess our sins means to face
them out with and before our Father—to acknowledge them, to again pledge to
endeavor to do His will. Until this is done we will pray in vain for favors.
The Sixth Law-ASKING
FOR DEFINITE THINGS
To obtain the fullest results in our prayer life, the sixth
law of prayer must be known and obeyed. This law is that our prayers must be
definite. …Some persons seem to have no
vision of things to pray for. They do not sense the need of this old world, or
they do not realize their privilege of bringing omnipotent power to bear upon
the problems of themselves and others. …
Those who do definite praying, God-directed praying, will
soon be able to look back on many answered prayers, so definitely answered that
they cannot be doubted. This will surely lead to an increase in faith, and to
more and better praying and serving.
The seventh
Law-ASKING BY ONE WHO IS GRATEFUL
Praise and thanksgiving are fundamental to true praying. The
Word says “in everything give thanks.” If we keep our vision clear, there is no
hour so dark nor struggle so hard but that there is an occasion for thanksgiving.
Paul and Silas sang praises in the Philippian jail.
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© 1957, 2002 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.
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