Oh, the faithfulness of God! He means it when He makes promises
and exhorts and urges and commands us to pray. It is not His
purpose to mock us, but to answer and "to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think." Bless His holy Name!
3. Knowledge and wisdom must take the place of foolish ignorance.
Paul says, "We know not what we should pray for as we ought," and
then adds, "But the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans viii. 26). If my
little child asks for a glittering razor, I refuse its request;
but when my full-grown son asks for one I grant it. So God cannot
wisely answer some prayers, for they are foolish or untimely.
Hence, we need not love and faith only, but wisdom and knowledge,
that we may ask according to the will of God.
It is this that Paul has in mind when he says that he will not
only pray with the Spirit, but "I will pray with the understanding
also" (I Cor. xiv. 15). Men should think before they pray, and
study that they may pray wisely.
Now, when the Holy Spirit comes there pours into the soul not
only a tide of love and simple faith, but a flood of light as
well, and prayer becomes not only earnest, but intelligent also.
And this intelligence increases, as, under the leadership of the
Holy Spirit, the word of God is studied, and its heavenly truths
and principles are grasped and assimilated.
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