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DANGERS IN PRAYER

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 24, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 15, No. 1.

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DANGERS IN PRAYER.

By E. GOODRICH.

IN approaching God by way of prayer and supplication, there is danger of coming before him in such a manner as to fail of obtaining the blessings sought and so much needed. There is danger, as the apostle James teaches, of asking and not receiving because we ask amiss, or to consume upon our lusts, or pleasures (Margin).
But this is not the only danger. There is danger also of coming before God, having with us a spirit of self-commendation, approving and justifying ourselves in what we have done; in which case we set aside the mercy of God by destroying the necessity for its exercise. For the man that commends himself, does not ask for mercy, but approbation.
Again there is danger of running into the extreme of self-abasement, and of feeling so unworthy that we don't believe God will have mercy upon us; in which case the grace of God is made unavailing, because it cannot reach us.
The danger in both the above instances is alike fatal, because in both, self is the paramount object seen. The first is an exhibition of faith in self-sufficiency; the latter is an exhibition of unbelief, based on self-insufficiency.
The medium ground and proper remedy is true godly faith, that faith which is a firm reliance in the word of God and that enables us to come boldly to a throne of divine grace, and in the name of Jesus ask for mercy and that we may obtain favor in every time of need. And when we thus come, feeling and realizing our need, our entire dependence, and our unworthiness, yet believing that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and when we thus pray having the mind of the Spirit, praying with the Spirit and with the understanding also, we have whatsoever we ask; because, as the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, we, having the mind of the Spirit, will only ask for those things we actually need in serving God and our fellows, and in making our peace, our calling and our election sure.
God enable us to worship him in Spirit and in truth.
E. GOODRICH.
Edenboro, Pa.