02.18. Chapter 18. Let us Pray
Let us Pray Prayer therefore, to be successful, must be—
(I)	That of a righteous man: one who is living habitually in conformity with all that he knows of the will of God, and who is ever seeking fuller knowledge thereof as revealed in the Word of God.
(2) It must be of that type which is termed "supplication," and which involves earnest insistence, such as that of the man who went to his friend at midnight seeking bread,4 and would not be denied; and resolute persistence, like that of the widow urging the court to act.
(3) It must be the prayer of faith, even that which confidently expects the answer. This faith is gained by asking for that which God has indicated as His holy will, since He has promised that this shall be done; and it is maintained in energy by paying steadfast regard to the merits of Christ and to the faithfulness of God to His promises. May God grant that to reader and writer there may be hence’ forth fuller meaning in the familiar call. Let us pray!
1 1 John 2:12. 2 John 14:13-14; John 15:16; John 16:23-24 (twice, once by implication as above), 26. 3 Genesis 32:10. 4 Luke 11:5.
They who believe that to pray is to work will not neglect other godly efforts, but they will put the first and final stress upon the effort of praying. Such shall surely find that our God is verily the One "Who worketh for him that waiteth for Him,1" the "God that doeth wonders,2" "the living God, Who now, as well as thousands of years ago, listens to the prayers of His children, and helps those who trust in Him."3 For has He not said, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and inaccessible, which thou knowest not,4 and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19) The margin "fenced in" suggests a strongly stockaded camp, or a well-defended city, as Petra the rock city of Edom, which was deemed impregnable, and concerning which the soldier-king cried, "Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom ? "5 God Who led David thither in triumph, causes other trustful, prayerful hearts to reach the inaccessible goal toward which He leads. He can always do something greater than the greatest we have known, but He wills that We inquire of Him that He should do it.6.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen."8 1 Isaiah 64:4; 2 Psalms 77:14. 3 George Müller. 4 Jeremiah 33:3. 5 Psalms 60:9. 6 Ezekiel 36:37. 7 Ephesians 3:20