“…Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).
“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel” (Psalm 20:4). This is a very wonderful
promise. Whatever our needs or problems, He is able to meet them and solve them. We have to believe
that God is able to give us much more than we ask. With that faith we have to go to Him. Many years ago,
I wanted a type-writer. I thought if I pray for a new one God might not give. So I prayed for an old one.
“Lord, I want a type-writer. Will you send an old one from somewhere? I was looking forward for an old
typewriter, but after a week or so someone came with a brand new type-writer. I thought it was
impossible to get a new one. That is how we limit God by our request. But God promises to grant us our
hearts’ desires. “Fulfil all thy counsel” means when we pray He will make our labours prosperous.
Whatever we give to Him, and whatever we offer must be done whole-heartedly. Don’t cut short your
prayer time.
“We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will setup our banners: the LORD fulfil all
thy petitions” (Psa. 20:5). In this verse there are three wonderful promises. The first one is, we will rejoice
in His salvation. Even though our prayers are not answered immediately, yet the fact that He has saved us
gives us great joy. Secondly, in the Name of the Lord we setup our banners. Banners speak of victory. For
every sin we conquer, and for every prayer answered, we must lift up a banner. When we do not thank
the Lord sufficiently we cannot lift up our banners. We should have faith in the Lord and His faithfulness.
By having faith in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ we become more than conquerors. Every
temptation we overcome is because of His victory. Our Lord became victorious and by faith we claim that
victory. We have to appropriate His victory as our victory. Thirdly, “And fulfil all your petitions”. If we keep
on counting the answered prayers there will be no end. Whatever may be our petition it will be fully
answered according to our faith.
“Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed ; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving
strength of his right hand” (v.6). We should keep ourselves holy in His presence. Then He will hear us from
His holy heaven. That is why we should claim the efficacy of His precious blood constantly to keep
ourselves holy. Then we can pray with boldness and liberty in His presence.
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“Some trust in chariot, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (v.7).
Some people depend upon their wealth and friends. These are all human sources. Whatever we receive
through men is only for a short time. “They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand
upright” (v.8). It is by the fervent prayers of the Church that the enemy is defeated.