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AFTER THIS MANNER YE PRAY (II)
TUESDAY, JULY 25
James 4:1-10

John 14:13-14

 

“If ye shall ask
any thing in my name,

I will do it.”

 

AFTER THIS MANNER YE PRAY (II)
 
(a) Pray with Humility, Reverence and Faith in Jesus’ Name: We have learnt that the humble and repentant prayer of the tax-collector is accepted while the proud and self-righteous prayer of the Pharisee is rejected (Luke 18:10-14). We have to pray with a humble and reverent heart (Eccl 5:2). God is our Creator and Maker while we are His creature. God is holy and righteous while we are sinners. We are to humble ourselves before Him (James 4:6).
 
We are also to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus. Without His death, resurrection and intercession for us, we cannot stand before the holy God. Our Lord Jesus says, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ Name? It means praying in His merits and righteousness. We are undone and we and our prayers are acceptable to the Father only through Jesus Christ. Regardless of who we are or what we have done, every time we come to God in prayer, we are to trust in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Praying in Jesus’ Name also means praying just as the Lord Jesus prayed: with faith and full submission to His Father’s will (Heb 11:6; Matt 26:39). If we pray according to our own lusts (Jam 4:3), we are taking Jesus’ Name in vain!
 
(b) Pray with a Thankful, Pure and Forgiving Heart: Praying is a part of our worship with thanks and praise to the Lord (Ps 100:4; Phil 4:6). It is a good time for us to examine ourselves and confess our sins so that we may be forgiven and cleansed (Matt 6:12; 1 John 1:9). If we do not repent nor forsake our known sins, our prayer will be rejected (Ps 66:18). And as we have received forgiveness from the Lord, we must have a forgiving heart so that our prayer may not be hindered (Matt 6:14-15).
 
THOUGHT: Without the risen Lord Jesus and His Name, our prayer is in vain.

PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for listening to my prayers in Jesus’ Name.

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