You Can Get Your Prayers Answered

"Ask and ye shall receive."—John 16:24

"Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."—John 15:7

James, the brother of our Lord, said, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). God has much more for all of us; what a shame we don't take advantage of the privilege we have of asking!

Prayer is not complicated. Any believer can talk to God and get results. There is no magic formula, no secret code. The Bible simply says "Ask" but it has a dual meaning. It means to ask one time; it also means to keep on asking. We are to ask and ask, and we will keep on receiving and receiving.

Dr. R.A. Torrey stated, "Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God."

If that be true, all we need do is determine whether what we ask is in the will of God. If it is, then we can have it. George Mueller, who saw thousands of answers to his prayers, explained how he did it:

1. One must come to complete dependence on the merits of Christ as the only claim of blessing.
2. One must separate himself from any known sin.
3. One must have faith in God's Word.
4. One must ask in accordance with God's will.
5. There must be an importunity or continuous asking and supplication until the answer comes.

These great men were not God's pets with some "in" that the rest of us do not have, for Peter by divine inspiration, said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34).

Who's Approval Matters?

I remember when I was a boy how my dear mother would draw me to herself and speak to me so solemnly of the importance of trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and I would say to her; "Well, Mother, I would like to do it, but the boys will laugh at me."

Mother used to say, "Harry, remember. They may laugh you into Hell, but they can never laugh you out of it."

And oh how that used to go home to me, and it stayed with me all through the years. Yes, men may sneer and ridicule and not understand us as we come out for Christ, but after all, His is the only approval worth having.

—H.A. Ironside

Saturday Sampler - Jed Cartwright and the Lighthouse Mystery

Enjoy a sample of our newest release, Jed Cartwright and the Lighthouse Mystery!

Jed Cartwright and the Lighthouse Mystery-Sample

Home Sweet Home

Home - a world of strife shut out, a world of love shut in.

Home - a place where the small are great, and the great are small.

Home - the father's kingdom, the mother's world, and the children's paradise.

Home - where we grumble the most and are treated the best.

Home - the center of our affection, round which our hearts' best wishes twine.

Home - the place where our stomachs get three square meals a day and our hearts a thousand.

—Charles M. Crowe

Learning From Lincoln

Few people have the tact that President Lincoln had when dealing with a situation that tempts one to use harsh measures.

When the darkest clouds of the Civil War were hovering over the Capitol, many things done by the generals were not approved by either Lincoln or Secretary of War Stanton. Lincoln would take a long time to ponder over new situations, but Stanton would at times lose his temper and explode.

One day, Stanton came to see Lincoln about the doings of a certain general. Listening quietly, Lincoln let Stanton show his anger, and when the latter exclaimed, "I would like to write him a letter and tell him what I think of him!" Lincoln remarked quietly, "Well, why not do so? Sit down and write him a letter, saying all that you have said to me."

Stanton was surprised, for he thought that President Lincoln would object to this. He declared that he would take the president at his word.

Two days later, he brought Lincoln the letter he had written and read it to him. When Stanton had finished, Lincoln smiled and remarked, "That is all right. You have said all you told me you would. Now, what are you going to do with this letter?"

"Why, I am going to send it to him, of course."

"I wouldn't," replied the president quickly. "Throw it in the wastebasket."

"What, after spending two days on it?" exclaimed Stanton.

"Yes, it took you two days to write it, and it did you a lot of good. You feel a great deal better now, and that is all that is necessary."

The letter went into the wastebasket, and Stanton learned an important lesson.

What do you think was the "important lesson" learned from the president? Could it be that he learned the following:

1. Don't react in anger.

2. You don't have to say everything you think.

3. You sometimes can wisely leave well enough alone.

4. Seeking confidential counsel can keep you from making a misstep.

5. Harshness is not a good approach.

6. Kindness seasoned with mercy is always in order.

7. A wrong response to someone else's wrongdoing can make a bad situation even worse.

—Adapted from Capitol Voice

Just How Important is Faith?

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."—Romans 5:1

1. We are saved by faith. (Eph. 2:8,9; Gal. 3:26; Acts 16:30,31)

2. We are justified by faith. (Rom. 3:26-28; 5:1; Gal. 2:16)

3. We are accounted righteous by faith. (Rom. 4:2-8)

4. We are sanctified by faith. (Acts 15:9; 26:18)

5. We live the Christian life by faith. (Rom. 1:17; II Cor. 5:7; Gal. 2:20)

6. We are overcomers by faith. (I John 5:2-4)

7. We are heirs by faith. (Rom. 4:13-16)

Why Should Christians Know the Scriptures?

Knowing the Scriptures

II Timothy 3:14-17—"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

1. It builds up. "And to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up."—Acts 20:32
2. It produces faith. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God."—Romans 10:17
3. It produces fruit. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."—John 15:7
4. It convicts of sin. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword."—Hebrews 4:12
5. It gives peace. "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."—Psalm 119:165
6. It corrects wrong. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God...for correction"— II Timothy 3:16
7. It confirms right. "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."—John 8:31
8. It comforts the heart. "This is my comfort in my affliction."—Psalm 119:50
9. It settles. "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."—Psalm 119:89
10. It keeps us from sin. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."—Psalm 119:11
11. It produces love. "Obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love."—I Peter 1:22
12. It gives warning. "And they are written for our admonition."—I Corinthians 10:11
13. It gives knowledge. "These things have I written unto you...that ye may know."—I John 5:13