God's presence, to claim and
secure His attention, to have distinct dealing with Him in regard to
some request, to commit our need to His faithfulness and to leave it
there: it is in so doing that we become fully conscious of what we are
seeking.

There are some who often carry strong desires in their heart, without
bringing them to God in the clear expression of definite and repeated
prayer. There are others who go to the Word and its promises to
strengthen their faith, but do not give sufficient place to that pointed
asking of God which helps the soul to the assurance that the matter has
been put into God's hands. Still others come in prayer with so many
requests and desires, that it is difficult for themselves to say what
they really expect God to do. If you would obtain from God this great
gift of faithfulness in prayer and power to pray aright, begin by
exercising yourself in prayer in regard to it. Say of it to yourself and
to God: "Here is something I have asked, and am continuing to ask till I
receive. As plain and pointed as words can make it, I am saying, 'My
Father! I do desire, I do ask of Thee, and expect of Thee, the grace of
prayer and intercession.'"

3. "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, _believe_."--As it is
only by faith that we can know God, or receive Jesus Christ, or live the
Christian life, so faith is the life and power of prayer. If we are to
enter upon a life of intercession, in which there is to be joy and power
and blessing, if we are to have our prayer for the grace of prayer
answered, we must learn anew what faith is, and begin to live and pray
in faith as never before.

Faith is the opposite of sight, and the two are contrary the one to the
other. "We walk by faith, and not by sight." If the unseen is to get
full possession of us, and heart and life and prayer are to be full of
faith, there must be a withdrawal from, a denial of, the visible. The
spirit that seeks to enjoy as much as possible of what is innocent or
legitimate, that gives the first place to the calls and duties of daily
life, is inconsistent with a strong faith and close intercourse with the
spiritual world. "We _look not_ at the things that are seen"--the
negative side needs to be emphasised if the positive, "but at the things
which are not seen," is to become natural to us. In praying, faith
depends upon our living in the invisible world.

This faith has specially to do with God. The great reason of our lac