Article August 19, 1950 Issue

"THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL"

Denny W. Brankle

Jesus said (John 16:24), "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." What a simple and easy way to obtain what is needful. But someone may say, "I have asked but have not received the things I asked for; therefore I am not happy." If this be so, then one should examine the motive for the asking. Does it measure up to the standard of prayer set by Christ Jesus (Matt. 6:33): "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"?

To receive what we ask for, our asking must be unselfish. The Apostle James said (4:3), "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Asking God for material things selfishly to satisfy the material senses is a denial of the spiritual and perfect nature of His creation. Such asking is motivated by the false belief that man is a corporeal being, requiring matter in some form to bring contentment; whereas man, God's idea, is spiritual, rejoicing in eternal completeness. The constant endeavor to spiritualize one's thought and to maintain it at a point where he can joyfully and understandingly say (PS. 17:15), "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness," helps one to rise above the false belief that matter is the source of joy.

Scientific asking is more than a mere petition. It must be accompanied by a deep sense of gratitude to God for the good already received, together with a humble and sincere longing to know and do His will and to make our lives a reflection of His love and goodness. Included in scientific asking is always an earnest desire that we may, under all circumstances, be able trustingly and joyfully to say to mortal mind, as did the three Hebrew youths to the idolatrous king (Dan. 3:18), "We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up"—not that we alone may be blessed, but that through our reflection of Truth the lives of all men may be enriched, that they too may have fullness of joy. Such prayer is effective because it unfolds the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

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