from
heaven, in answer to prayer, the Holy Spirit will take complete
possession of us to do His work through us. Let us acknowledge how vain
our much work has been owing to our little prayer. Let us change our
method, and let henceforth more prayer, much prayer, unceasing prayer,
be the proof that we look for all to God, and that we believe that He
heareth us.

A PLEA FOR MORE PRAYER

CHAPTER V

The Life that can Pray

"_If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you_, ask whatsoever ye
will, and it shall be done unto you."--JOHN xv. 7.

"The supplication of _a righteous man_ availeth much in its
working."--JAMES v. 16.

"Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, _because_ we keep His
commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."--1
JOHN iii. 21, 22.

Here on earth the influence of one who asks a favour for others depends
entirely on his character, and the relationship he bears to him with
whom he is interceding. It is what he is that gives weight to what he
asks. It is no otherwise with God. Our power in prayer depends upon our
life. Where our life is right we shall know how to pray so as to please
God, and prayer will secure the answer. The texts quoted above all point
in this direction. "_If ye abide in Me_," our Lord says, ye shall ask,
and it shall be done unto you. It is the prayer of _a righteous man_,
according to James, that availeth much. We receive whatsoever we ask,
John says, _because_ we obey and please God. All lack of power to pray
aright and perseveringly, all lack of power in prayer with God, points
to some lack in the Christian life. It is as we learn to live the life
that pleases God, that God will give what we ask. Let us learn from our
Lord Jesus, in the parable of the vine, what the healthy, vigorous life
is that may ask and receive what it will. Hear His voice, "If ye abide
in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you." And again at the close of the parable: "Ye did
not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go
and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that _whatsoever ye
shall ask_ the Father in My name, _He may give it you_."

And what is now, according to the parable, the life that one must lead
to bear fruit, and then ask and receive what we will? What is it we are
to be or do, that