TEXT: JAMES 1:2
''Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.''
He who expects God to show him mercy, but would have no time to ask for it, tells God to dispense with the ordinance of prayer; to not pray, yet expecting God's intervention, is but a tempting God, who would have all men come to Him on the wing of prayer. The first sign that discovers to God that we stand in need of Him, is when we go on our knees; and to stay upon our knees, reveals to God our dire need of Him. None should expect rest from his labour and heavy burden, who has not come to Jesus; and none ever came to Him without getting rest. In prayer, all the graces converged: faith is present during prayer; humility, patience, love, holiness, purity, endurance, joy &co., are all seen during prayer: so, when God looks upon a man on his knees in the place of prayer, He sees one who is 'perfect and entire, wanting nothing.' Dear pilgrims, perish the thought that God could be engaged without prayer; to not pray, is to keep Him out of our affairs; prayer is the formal invitation to God, bidding Him to come to the arena of our conflicts. Who are 'the have' in the kingdom, but 'the petitioners'? 'The have not' are those who ask not. The reformation, salvation, revival and the requisites for life and godliness we seek for, are in the place of prayer. As the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed to Joseph in the dream, so all the sources of light in this life, bow to prayer: He that is not often on his knees, seldom would have light to live by. Friends, I know we would to have rest from all our pintches and quagmires: then, let us take to asking God, who gives liberally to al men. Hitherto we have not, because we asked not. Shall we not then ask, so that we can have? Ask now, and it shall be given to you: 'for every one that asks receives.'