3. The Wants to Be Prayed Against

1. The first thing which we are here to desire is, that we may have grace to deny ourselves, wills, and affections: because herein we are unlike to God, and like the devil. This is the first lesson that our Savior does give his disciples, that they must deny themselves and follow him.

2. The second thing is the knowledge of God's will: for otherwise how shall we do it? How can that servant please his master, which cannot tell what he would have done of him? Most men will have books of statutes in their houses, and if they be to deal in any great matter, they will do nothing before they have looked on the statute. In like manner men should have the Bible, that is, the book of God's statutes in their houses: the laws of God must be the men of our counsel: before every action we are to search what is the will of God, and then to do it. Here then we are taught to use the means, and to pray for knowledge.

3. Again, we are here taught to have a desire in our hearts, and an endeavor in our lives, in all things to perform obedience to God's word in our lives and conversations, and in our particular callings.

4. Lastly, we desire patience and strength, when it shall please God at any time to exercise us with the cross, as Paul prays for the Colossians, That God would strengthen them by the power of his might, to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:12).