Matthew Henry’s “Method For Prayer”

Introduction to Petition

Petition 3.0 | ESV

Of the Third Part of Prayer, which is Petition and Supplication for the Good Things that we Stand in Need of.

Having opened the wounds of sin, both the guilt of it and the power of it, and its remainders in us, we must next seek unto God for the remedy, for healing and help, for from him alone it is to be expected, and this also he will let us ask him to do for us. Ezekiel 36:37(ESV) And now we must affect our hearts with a deep sense of the need we have of those mercies which we pray for, that we are undone, forever undone, without them; and, with a high esteem and value for them, that we are happy, we are made forever, if we obtain them; that we may like Jacob wrestle with him in prayer, as for our lives and the lives of our souls. But we must not think in our prayers to prescribe to him or by our importunity to move him. He knows us better than we know ourselves and knows what he will do. John 6:6(ESV) But thus, we open our wants and desires, and then refer ourselves to his wisdom and goodness; and hereby we give honor to him as our Protector and Benefactor, and take the way which he himself has appointed, of fetching in mercy from him, and by faith plead his promise with him: And if we are sincere in this, we are, through his grace, qualified according to the tenor of the new covenant to receive his favors, and are to be assured that we do and shall receive them. Mark 11:24(ESV)

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? Truly my hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool. Psalm 39:7-8(ESV)

Lord, all my longing is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you, Psalm 38:9(ESV) even the sighs and groanings too deep for words; for, he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit. Romans 8:26-27(ESV)

I do not think that I will be heard for my many words, for my Father knows what I need before I ask him; Matthew 6:7-8(ESV) but my Master has told me that whatever I ask of the Father in his name, he will give it to me. And he has said, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24(ESV)

And this is the confidence that I have toward him, that if I ask anything according to his will he hears me. And if I know that he hears me in whatever I ask, I know that I have the requests that I have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15(ESV)

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