“And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:15
Dear Ones:
When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he was very clear when it came to effectual prayer, prayer that would be answered. Perhaps the most fundamental truth with regard to prayer is the realization that “…we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.” (8:26) Not only do we have great limitations with regard to the knowledge of what we should pray for, but also, the faith necessary to pray believing and receiving from God that which has been prayed. Not only does the Lord come to our help by declaring, “…the Spirit helps us in our infirmities (weaknesses),” (v.26), but also, “…the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.” On the one hand, the Lord comes to our aid in “helping,” or enabling us to pray, and on the other hand, the Spirit prays for us in such a way as is not possible for us to do. How then do we know that our prayers will be answered? The answer is found in Paul’s mention of the Spirit’s intercession: “…He makes intercession for us according to the will of God.” (v.27)
Abiding in Christ, or “dwelling in God,” is an essential concept, and practice, that we are called to live by. Without such a life of living by the life of Christ, by the Spirit, “setting ourselves in Him, and deriving all from Him,” we cannot bear fruit. And it is in the measure that we abide in Him that He abides in us. We are speaking here primarily of a life of fellowship with Christ, walking in the light with Him, taking Him daily and moment by moment to BE our living bread, and living water. He IS the Vine…and we are the branches where the fruit of His life is to be seen. How then can we abide, and this in answer to prayer?
In Psalm 90, Moses puts our feet firmly on the path of prayer, so that a life of abiding becomes possible. He begins with the Lord Himself being our dwelling place.(v.1) He then provides us with practical, specific subjects of prayer, according to the will of God. First, “Satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days…Make us glad.” (v.14,15) Why is this important? It is in rejoicing in the Lord that we are occupied with Him, and secondly, His joy IS our strength.” The second subject for prayer is: “Let Thy work APPEAR (….or be revealed) unto Your servants, and your glory unto their children.” (v.15) Essential to faith, and its growth and strength, is the fresh perception, daily vision, of what God desires to DO, and will do in and through His servants. Not only is it essential to know the will of God, His work, but also, for us and our children to SEE His glory, the “wind in the trees,” the very effects of His wondrous working. The third subject for prayer is: “…Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us.” (v.16) Is this possible, that “Christ will shine on us?” Can He not put His blessed hand upon us for good, and reveal His nature in and through us by the Spirit? The Bible does say that we are to be FILLED with the Spirit of His life. The fourth subject for prayer in order to abide in Christ consistently, has to do with God’s “establishing” work in us: “Establish Thou the work of our hands upon us.” Twice Moses prays this. Why? Because it is not enough to abide in Christ from time to time, in the good and peaceful circumstances. We are called to conquer, to reign in life, to overcome adversity, in every circumstance, abiding in Christ. For this to be our experience, we need for God to ESTABLISH us in Him, enabling us not only to take a position of faith, but strengthened to maintain that position.
Dear Father, teach us to abide in Christ by prayer and faith. Enable us to pray in faith, according to Thy revealed will. Then we shall see Thee work wonderfully according to Thy word. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad