r
leave thee, but will fulfil thy soul's request. God is not, as men
are, mindful of wrongs done to Him, but forgetful of them, and He hath
compassion upon His workmanship. Do thou, therefore, cleanse thy heart
from all the vanities of this age, and from things spoken of before,
and ask from the Lord and thou shalt receive all things; and of all thy
petitions thou shalt not fail of one, if thou ask of the Lord with an
unhesitating heart. But if thou doubtest in thy heart, thou shalt
receive none of thy petitions. For they that are doubtful towards God,
are the double-minded men, and they shall obtain none at all of their
petitions. But they that are perfectly sound in the faith ask for all
things in reliance upon the Lord, and receive them, because they ask
without hesitation and with no dividedness of heart. For every
double-minded man, unless he repent, will scarcely be saved. Cleanse,
therefore, thy heart from double-mindedness, and put on faith, for she
is mighty, and believe in God, that thou shalt receive all thy requests
that thou dost make. And if ever when thou hast made request thou be
somewhat longer in receiving thy petition from the Lord, be not of a
double-mind, that thou didst not swiftly receive thy soul's request,
for certainly it is on account of some temptation or some sin that thou
art longer in receiving thy petition. Therefore, do not cease making
thy request, and thou shalt receive it, but if thou faintest and art of
doubtful mind in thy petition, blame thyself and not Him who gives to
thee." It amounts to this, that to have power in prayer is only
possible as long as and in proportion as we walk with God.

Looking at it in another light, observe that real prayer is connected
in a most intimate manner with the influences of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps this is what is meant by the word rendered by us "energised,"
but "effectual and fervent" in the English Version. Certainly in
almost every case where the word occurs, it has reference to the
operation of God or the devil. And if this be so, the prayer must be a
possessed prayer, and the praying man a possessed person, and so again
we are brought face to face with the foundations of mighty prayer lying
in a holy life. And what else is taught by the Apostle when he says,
"The Spirit maketh intercession _in the Saints_ according to the will
of God"?

X

THE SENTINEL OF THE HEART

"The peace of God, which exceeds all understanding,