Power in PrayerSample

Any father will tell you that granting the request of a disobedient child would encourage rebellion in the family and render it impossible for him to rule in his own house. The parent must often say, “My child, you did not listen to my word just now, and, therefore, I cannot listen to yours.” It is not that the father does not love, but because of his love, he must show his displeasure by refusing the request of his erring offspring.

God acts with us as we should act toward our rebellious children. If He sees that we will go into sin and transgress, it is part of His kind discipline to say, “I will shut out your prayer when you cry unto Me; I will not hear you when you entreat of Me; I will not destroy you, but you shall have no more of the luxuries of My kingdom or special prevalence with Me in prayer.” That the Lord deals this way with His own people is clear from Psalm 81:13–16.

Why, if the disobedient child of God had the promise put into his hands—“whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matt. 21:22)—he would ask for something that would bolster him up in his rebellion. This can never be tolerated. Shall God pander to our corruptions? Shall He find fuel for the flames of carnal passion? A self-willed heart hankers after greater liberty that it may be the more obstinate; a haughty spirit longs for greater elevation that it may be prouder still; a slothful spirit asks for greater ease that it may be yet more indolent, and a domineering spirit asks for more power that it may have more opportunities for oppression.

Shall God listen to such prayers as these? It cannot be. He will give us what we ask if we keep His commandments, but if we become disobedient, He also will reject prayers. Happy will we be if, through divine grace, we can say with David, “I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord” (Ps. 26:6).