Question 117
Section 45: Lord’s Day 45
What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?
First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested himself in his word,a for all things, he hath commanded us to ask of him:b secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of his divine majesty:c thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that he, notwithstanding we are unworthy of it,d will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer,e as he has promised us in his word.f
a. John 4:22–23
John 4:22–23
4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
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b. Romans 8:26; 1 John 5:14
Romans 8:26
8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
1 John 5:14
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
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c. John 4:23–24; Psalm 145:18
John 4:23–24
4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 4:24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
Psalm 145:18
145:18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
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d. 2 Chronicles 20:12
2 Chronicles 20:12
20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
20:12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
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e. Psalm 2:11; 34:18–19; Isaiah 66:2
Psalm 2:11
2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 34:18–19
34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Isaiah 66:2
66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
66:2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being," declares the LORD. "This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
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f. Romans 10:13; 8:15–16; James 1:6ff; John 14:13; Daniel 9:7, 18; Matthew 7:8; Psalm 143:1
Romans 10:13
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 8:15–16
8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
James 1:6–27
1:6 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. 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
1:6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 1:7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 1:10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 1:11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 1:14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 1:15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation. 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 1:20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 1:23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 1:24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 1:25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so-not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer-he will be blessed in what he does. 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
John 14:13
14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Daniel 9:7; Daniel 9:18
9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 9:18 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 righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
9:7 To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame-the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 9:18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
Matthew 7:8
7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Psalm 143:1
143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
143:1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
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