“If the professing Christian supposes that no matter what the character of his walk may be, he has but to plead the name of Christ and his petitions are assured of an answer, he is sadly deluded. God is ineffably holy and His Word expressly declares, “If I regard iniquity I my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa. 66:18).
It is not sufficient to believe in Christ, or plead His name, in order to ensure answers to prayer: there must be a practical subjection to and daily fellowship with Him: “If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
It is not sufficient to be a child of God and call upon his heavenly Father: there must be an ordering of our lives according to His revealed will: “Whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1John 3:22).
It is not sufficient to come boldly unto the Throne of Grace: we must “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22) – that which defiles being removed by the cleansing precepts of the Word (see Psa. 119:9).”
-“The Life of Elijah” A.W. Pink
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