2. With faith in God.

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

Heb. 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in full as surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jam. 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

3. With submission to God.

Ps. 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Lam. 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Mat. 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Lk. 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

Ac. 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

4. With humility, confession, and repentance.

Lev. 26:40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; i then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

2 Ch. 7: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

33:12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

Ps. 9: 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Is. 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Lk. 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

5. With a supreme regard for the glory of God.

Ex. 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

1 K. 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

Ps. 79: 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Is. 37:20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

Dan. 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear: open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

6. With a forgiving temper.

Mat. 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Mk. 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But, if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Lk. 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.

7. With importunity and perseverance.

Gen. 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestlea

Nature of acceptable Prayer.

a man with him, until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh: and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of Joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh: And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Is. 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Lk. 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves: 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 5 Yet, because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.

Rom. 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Ep. 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Col. 4: 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

1 Th. 3: 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Postures in Prayer.

1 Th. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

8. In the name of Christ.

Jn. 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name : ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

9. With godly sincerity.

Ps. 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me.

145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Jer. 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Dt. 4:29.

10. With the spirit of benevolence.

Pr. 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Is. 587 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity.

461. Various postures in prayer.

Ex. 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD's. 1 K. 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven.

2 Ch. 6:13 (For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven.)

Mat. 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his