Thoughts for Life: #44 Ask Righteously

Samuel Chadwick: 4. Ask Righteously (James 5:13-18). The rightness of the asking goes down to the rightness of the asker. The person who prays is the prayer. He is both the petitioner and the petition; the pleader and the plea; the request and the reason.

Patriarchs and Psalmists fall back on their integrity as an argument with God, and their plea is admitted. The alms and prayers of Cornelius were accepted by God, and Peter declared his new faith in these terms: (Google image, Praying and the Holy Spirit)

"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:34-35).

It is the praying of the righteous man that is of great force. Faith is no substitute for right living. It does not cover sin; only blood can do that. It saves from sin, gives victory over sin, and makes men righteous with the righteousness of God.

There is no condemnation, but an assurance in the will of God that gives "boldness toward God: and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:21-22).

5. Earnestly. God promises to be found of us when we seek Him with all our hearts (Jer. 29:13). Elijah's prevailing prayer was intense in its passion. Our Lord's parables on prayer emphasize an importunity that persists and insists in spite of discouragement, and the Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of His own praying with strong cries and tears. It is the impassioned prayer that prevails.

6. Ask in the Spirit. The prevailing prayer of Elijah was energized prayer. It was inspired, instructed, and empowered of the Holy Spirit.

7. Ask in the Prayer of Faith. Ask believingly according to the law of faith. The principle is stated in Mark 11:24, and illustrations are throughout the Scriptures. The honor Roll of Faith in Hebrews 11 furnishes illustrious examples of its power, and in verse 13 there is a picturesque description of its method.

Like the man in the Gospels who believed the word that Jesus spoke and went his way (John 4:50), so these had witness borne to them, and they dared and endured by faith, even dying believing.

Israel shouted before the walls of Jericho while as yet there was not even a crack in the solid masonry, and the shout of faith brought them down so that there was not a yard of solid masonry left.

Jehoshaphat's singers chanted the song of victory before the battlefield was reached, and the song of faith was mightier than thousands of armed men skilled in war.

Elijah's promise to the widow was made in the midst of famine, and in the house of faith there was no lack. The prayer of faith works mightily, for it is mighty with the power of God.

"When ye pray, believe that ye have received and ye shall have."

"HAVE FAITH IN GOD"

He never dishonors faith.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

THE PATH OF PRAYER
By Samuel Chadwick
(Click on the title to buy)

Used by the permission of

www.cliffcollege.ac.uk
(Emphasis added)

Let's pray-

Father, may we, in our praying as the petitioners, have a rightness about what we plead for; both the request and our reason.
We understand that the praying of the righteous person is of great force, but no substitute for living right. It does not cover our sin, as only Christ's blood can do that.
His blood saves from sin, gives victory over sin and makes us righteous with Your righteousness.
Your Word shows us that impassioned prayer is what prevails, as it energizes us, inspires, instructs and empowers us by Your Holy Spirit, when we believe according to the law of faith.
As You never dishonor the faith we have, we can depend upon You to answer our prayers, when we come to You asking righteously.
We ask for this in Jesus' name, and for His glory. Amen

Today's Bible verses-

Is. 33:6 (NKJV) "Wisdom and knowledge will be
the stability of your times, and the strength of
salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure."

Prov. 3:5, 6 (NKJV) "Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
(v.6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct your paths."

Ps. 62:8 (NKJV) " Trust in Him at all times, you
people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is
a refuge for us. Selah" {Think about that!}

Today's quote-

~ John and Carol Arnott- "Sometimes we are impressed with ministers and leaders who are anointed, but what if the character or integrity of that minister doesn't seem to match the anointing? No one is perfect, of course, and we live with the provision of grace and forgiveness, but don't mistake grace for license and a lack of integrity. It's important that the character of the minister is growing to match the character of the Holy Spirit in whom he or she ministers. For us as ministers, as we seek revival, we need to work on our character. We want to be Christlike in character and anointing." (Taken from p. 100 of PREPARING for the GLORY, Getting Ready for the Next Wave of holy Spirit Outpouring)

Did you know?

~The pruning the Holy Spirit does in our nature acknowledges fruitfulness and brings adjustments for the purpose of greater increase.

~ Our anointing from God makes personal transformation more available.

Today's guest post-

Striving for Stillness

Sarah Rollandini- "Listening to my

favorite podcast, I pumped my arms and powered down the country road.

Scanning the cornfields that flanked my path, I took in budding oaks that stood sentry over the pastoral scene. I was the queen of multitasking, and this was no exception. Exercising my body on a long walk, I stretched my mind with the day’s topic. Suddenly, I sensed a prompting to remove my ear buds, stop racking my brain, and bask in the sun on my face and the gravel under my feet."

Today's question-

What did I do when my "mouse" for the computer wouldn't work?

I called for my computer-wiz grandson, and he came this evening to check it out. He pulled the plug and plugged it back in, and to his amazement, IT WORKED! We gave God the praise, did a "high five," and he left! Now I can finish my work on this draft, so it's ready for posting!
What a mighty God we serve! Amen.

Upcoming posts-

When All Seems Lost

8th- Saturday's posts by Leslie Koh

#45 Praying "One For Another"
11th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick

#46- The Intercession in Heaven
13th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick

A Plea for God's Help
15th- Saturday's post by Cheri Fuller