Doctrines of Prayer, Faith, and Peace by James Hastings: Hastings, James - Doctrine of Prayer: 027. Chapter 8: The First Principles Of Prayer

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Doctrines of Prayer, Faith, and Peace by James Hastings: Hastings, James - Doctrine of Prayer: 027. Chapter 8: The First Principles Of Prayer



TOPIC: Hastings, James - Doctrine of Prayer (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 027. Chapter 8: The First Principles Of Prayer

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THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER.

THERE is an aspect of the Christian doctrine of prayer which seems to be sadly overlooked. It is the necessity of our fulfilling those conditions of obedience, trust, and service on which alone God can give us the richest of His spiritual mercies. Is there not something amounting almost to mockery in the way in which we often ask for the highest spiritual blessings, and then give no thought to fulfilling in our lives the conditions on which alone they can come to us? Perhaps this failure to grasp the deeper import of prayer has its roots in the idea that prayer is mere petition. If, however, we perceive that prayer springs from and expresses the Christian life in all its depths of conviction and devotion, we must see that there are conditions of receptiveness on our part which must be fulfilled, if our prayers are to avail before God. Do we not often pray for blessings which we are all unfitted to receive? Would we not do well to pray that God would make us able and fit to receive His gifts, to open our eyes that we might see them, and our hearts that we might be able to take them? They wait to descend upon us. They will wait no longer than the time when they can wisely be given.

The conditions of prevailing prayer are not all of the same importance. They may be divided into First Principles, Personal Demands, and Minor Aids. In this chapter we shall consider the three First Principles.