June 16
Rules for Prayer
The Christian's Daily Treasury"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."—1 Timothy 2:8.
PAUL here speaks with authority, as he had received a commission from God. The contents of this verse are highly important; let us briefly glance at them.
THE NATURE OF THE DUTY. It is the exercise of prayer. Prayer is an offering, which, if not presented on the altar of the heart, with the fire of fervent devotion, cannot come up with acceptance before God. It is the breath of the new creature, the spiritual pulsation of the soul.
THE SCENES OF ITS EXERCISE. "Everywhere." This includes prayer in the secret of retirement, at the domestic altar, in the social circle, and in the solemn assembly. The exercise is to be continual; that is, we are to cultivate a prayerful spirit, and a devotional frame. If this duty were observed, how many evils would be prevented! what vast and inestimable benefits would be enjoyed!
THE MANNER OF ITS PERFORMANCE. Three rules are here laid down, which we do well to observe.
Purity. "Lifting up holy hands." This may allude to the custom which prevailed among the Jews of washing the hands before engaging in the services of the temple, and this was to express their desire of inward purity. David says, "I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord!"
Love. "Without wrath," that is, in a spirit of Christian love and kindness. The angry passions must be quelled, and the leaven of malice must not be mixed up with our devotions.
Faith. Without "doubting." It is the prayer of faith that prevails with God. There must be a belief in our exigences, and Christ's fulness and sufficiency to supply all our wants. Jeremy Taylor beautifully observes, "Prayer is the daughter of charity, and the sister of meekness; and he that prays to God in an angry spirit, is like him who retires into a battle to meditate, and sets up his closet in the out quarters of an enemy, and chooses a frontier garrison to be wise in. Anger is a perfect alienation of the mind from prayer; and therefore is contrary to that attention which presents our prayers in a right line to heaven."