The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16.

Effectual prayer lies in the fact that we ask that God's will may be done. We learn His will from His Word.

God's will for us is bent on our salvation. We seek God because we have need of help higher than our own. We pray because we believe in Christ as our King who rules and directs our lives. We seek deliverance from those things in our lives that are contrary to Him. We pray because we know that behind all the problems and conflicts of life there stands a loving heavenly Father. We pray to be more like Him.

What do you want most from God?—to live triumphantly? To learn to love God and your fellow men? God's great purpose is to fulfill our lives. Do you find meaning in asking Him to do that, to draw your affections from the things that would destroy your Christian experience? Do you ask Him to possess you by His Spirit?

Our heavenly Father has pledged Himself to hear our prayers and answer them. Ought not this certainty to be our confidence and strength and hope? Have we any other spiritual strength within our reach? Do we have access to any other power like unto this? Can we find anywhere else a love that meets our basic needs for acceptance, for security, and for self-worth? When we are weighed down with our faults, frailties, and failures is there anything more certain and assuring than to come to Him for rest, peace, forgiveness, mercy, and joy?

"I am the vine, ye are the branches" (John 15:5). Are we willing to accept our position as a branch linked with Christ, the true vine? If we live in such a dependent relationship God will give its what we ask for, because we will always ask according to His will.

Some professed Christians live a fairly orderly life by self-discipline. It is remarkable how many things can be done by the sheer force of the will. But this is a cut-flower religion. It has no real roots. It does not last. Christian living is a transformed life. We are linked with the true Vine.