lfishly, "asking amiss," we can hope
for no answer. We will get no hearing. We must ask with the thought,
"What is the Father's will? What does He consider best?"

DESPERATION.

True prayer must be earnest. It was the IMPORTUNATE widow that was
heard, and it is the importunate seeker that never fails of an answer.
If when sinners, backsliders, or believers come to the altar they would
pray with earnestness and desperation, there would be a far larger PER
CENT. of them who would go away fully satisfied. God never gives great
blessings to indifferent people. When He sees a man in an agony of
desire and longing, then He hastens to gladden his heart with an answer.

FAITH.

Prayer must be full of faith. James makes this clear to us. "Let him
ask in faith nothing wavering." God cannot bestow a blessing upon us if
we doubt Him. If a neighbor doubts your character, how much of your
heart do you let him see? If a fellow-preacher imputes selfish motives
to your acts, how often do you go to him and pour your heart out to
him? But those who believe in us--how frequently we run to them, unlock
our hearts and tell them all! It is thus with God. If we believe His
word, if we are sure of the veracity of His promise, and are
confidently expecting an answer, He will not, can not disappoint us.

THE FORGIVING SPIRIT.

There must be in us a forgiving spirit if our prayers are to be heard.
Forgiveness of our enemies precedes blessing for ourselves. "If ye
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
your trespasses." If I am bitter in my heart toward any creature, God
can not but be deaf to all my cries. If I nourish hatred, or meditate
revenge, or plot the downfall of any man, my prayers are vain; yea, all
my hope in Christ is futile!

GOSSIPING PREACHERS.

O that God may send us all the prayerful blessing! It is better that we
pray than that we discuss politics or talk "shop," or gossip or jest.
If we preachers and evangelists at camps and conventions would pray
more instead of getting in groups and talking about a world of
nothings, our sermons would mean full as much to those whom we address.

UNBROKEN CONNECTION.

Sanctification makes it possible for us to "pray without ceasing." The
indwelling Paraclete keeps the heart in a constant spirit of prayer, so
that at all hours and in all places prayers ascend. Communication is
kept up between the heart and the throne of Grod. No snows break the
wires. N