James 4:1-3 From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?… Most Christians are alive to the duty of prayer, and believe most firmly in its power. Yet, in the experience of all, prayer is not prevalent, as it ought. Few but have reason sadly to confess: "We have asked but we have received not." Where, then, lies the fault? Is it with God? No; God's ear is never heavy that it cannot hear. His arm is never shortened that it cannot save. The fault lies with ourselves. It is because we have not asked aright that we have asked in vain. I. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING "AMISS" IN THE SOURCE FROM WHENCE OUR PRAYERS COME. All true prayer must come from the heart. Its own emptiness and want must prompt the cry, else it will not "enter into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth." Perhaps our hearts are toll, and there is no room for the blessing, which we profess to seek, to enter. Full of worldly desires, delights, and passions. In such a case, vain must our asking be — insulting to the God whom we address. II. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING "AMISS" IN THE OBJECTS WHICH OUR PRAYERS SEEK. Perhaps we have no definite object in view whatever. We have not inquired as to our wants ere engaging in the exercise. Utter in God's presence no "vague generalities," which have been well termed "the death of prayer," but plead before Him felt, individual want. But granting that we have a definite object in view, that object may be altogether of a selfish nature. It is something pleasing to ourselves we wish — self-honour, self-pleasure, self-gratification. So intently is our mind fixed upon some object on which our heart is set — so entirely are we wrapt up in the attainment of it — that we forget to ask ourselves whether the gratification of our desire may be conducive to our highest well-being, may be in accordance with the will of God. III. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING "AMISS" IN THE SPIRIT BY WHICH OUR PRAYERS ARE PERVADED, What was said concerning the Israelites with reference to Cannaan may be said of our prayers with reference to the audience chamber of God: "They could not enter in because of unbelief." In this — the absence of faith — we have the secret of the non-success of the greater number of our petitions. And our faith must be such as to bring us to the mercy-seat pleading again and yet again the self-same request. Our faith must not fail, if at first asking no answer comes, for we "ask amiss" if we ask not perseveringly. (W. R. Inglis.) Parallel Verses KJV: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? |
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