April 10

Let him ask in faith. — JAMES i. 6.

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

THIS is one of Christ's words of farewell. It is a part of his legacy to his faithful people, — a blank checkbook on the bank of heaven, with our Lord's signature to it right through. Let us have faith to make a good use of it.

What encouragement and help it gives us! Our blessed Lord well knows how weak our faith is and how slowly it grows; that our hearts are likely to fail us in the presence-chamber of the Almighty, — and therefore for our stimulus and comfort he speaks to us these words: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name, ask," — that is, as the word implies, go on asking, continue to ask, — "and ye shall receive."

Note finally the end proposed to be obtained by means of our prayer. It is that our joy may be completed; that we may be made truly happy. Our Lord desires that in this life we should have joy, and he points us to the only source of true blessedness, — to God. Let us then abound much in prayer; and with joyous hearts let us go about the work which God has given us to do.

Alex. Miller

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw;

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

COWPER