The reach the prayer of the faith (continued)

I could name many people who began to study the Bible in the report we spoke of yesterday, and who, even before having completed half of their study, were filled with the spirit of prayer. They found that God, by His promises, meant exactly what a man of the most common sense would discover. I advise you to try. You have a Bible, go through it ; and every time you find a promise, fix your mind on it before you go further, and you will not have completed the Book without seeing that the promises of God mean precisely what they say.

Feed the good wishes you have. Christians often lose them because they fail to do so. Then their prayers are nothing but words, no desire, no seriousness. The least thirst for such desires must be carefully maintained. If you were in danger of freezing, and you had at your disposal the least embers, what care would you not take! Likewise, if you have the slightest desire for a blessing, however weak, do not neglect it ; do not lose your good desires by the lightness, by judgments little charitable, or by a worldly spirit.

Watch and pray.

Full consecration to God is an indispensable condition for the prayer of faith. You must lead a holy life and dedicate everything to God - your time, your talents, your influence - all that you have and all that you are for everything to be entirely to Him.

Read the lives of pious men, and you will be struck to see that most of them used to set aside certain times, to renew their covenant with God, and to surrender themselves to Him all again ; whenever they did it a blessing followed immediately.

Jeremy Sourdril