Ask

By Chandra Devi Baskaran

ASK, by Chandra Devi Baskaran, is a sequel to THIRST, giving fine insights and explanations regarding prayer and related issues. Commonly asked questions like how to pray? when to pray? will God listen to my prayers? find clear answers in this book as the author speaks from her own experiences in prayer. A former professor of a College, she serves with passion the living Christ in various ways- -TV ministry, Christian counselling, village gospel outreach and prayer ministry. Prayer being the breath of every Christian, it strengthens one to lead a victorious life, for in times of sorrow and sickness, doubts and fears, worry and weakness and any emotional crisis, prayer alone helps one to overcome them and be at peace to God, with oneself and with others. Prayers are categorized as Prayer of thanksgiving, Intercessory prayer, Praying in th Spirit, Prayer holding on to promises and so on. The essential requisites for effective prayersuch as asking in faith, praying according to the will of God, praying in the name of Jesus are also elaborated in this book. Repentance of sins and assurances of forgiveness, forgiving others, and total submission to the Lord are the prerequisites for our prayer to be answered. The author also states in this book how we should not pray. She makes it clear through Bible verses what sort of prayers are not pleasing to the Lord and should be avoided. Further notes on praying without ceasing, praying with fasting, praying without wearying and pharisaic prayer enlighten us on how to pray and how not to pray. Yes, we are privileged to talk to God, and hear Him speak to us-- that is what prayer is all about. This book challenges its readers to enter into a new realm of the spirit world through adventures in prayer

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Sep 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482847222

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Chandra Devi Baskaran.

ISBN:   Softcover   978-1-4828-4723-9

            eBook         978-1-4828-4722-2

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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CONTENTS

1 I will bless the Lord at all times.

2 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever.

3 For we wrestle … against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

4 Thy will be done.

5 Being filled with the Holy Spirit…

6 Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

7 Lord, forgive them.

8 Unless Thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

9 Speak, Lord, …

10 Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

11 Offered up prayers and supplications …

12 Forget not all His benefits.

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my beloved uncle, Mr. P. John Samuel, M.A., M.Sc., M.Ed., Assistant Head Master, RBCC School, Trivellore, who prayed for me and wished that I may prosper and be in health and encouraged me and cheered me in all things.

FOREWORD

Through this book, ASK, Professor Chandra Devi Baskaran invites its readers to lead a life of prayer. Through her first book, THIRST, she reminded its readers of the spiritual needs of man. In this book, she gives the solution to quenching this spiritual thirst. I am happy for this privilege of writing the Foreword to this book.

The word, Ask is the word used by Jesus Christ to mean Pray.

The special feature of this book is that it explains the various aspects of prayer on the basis of the Bible and on the basis of experiences as well. The thoughts expressed in this book can be best understood if one reads having in mind the chapter headings of this book.

As this book starts with the verse, I will bless the Lord at all times, the book makes it clear that praise and thanksgiving should be given the first place in prayer. This book clearly brings out the fact that it is not only asking the Lord in prayer, but it is also praising and thanking the Lord for all the good things we have received from Him. As we praise God more and more, grace abounds. We come to know of this where, when Paul and Silas prayed in the prison singing and praising the Lord, they were delivered from their chains.

Another chapter that attracted me in this book was Intercessory Prayer. Explaining it as Facts about the five fingers is to be mentioned specially. Also, reminding us to pray for every one and at all times is praise worthy.

It is to be appreciated that quoting the hymn, Take my life and let it be a prayer, emphasizes that we should commit ourselves to God.

Many truths of like manner are written in simple, lucid language. At the same time explaining it clearly is yet another special feature of this book. This encourages our prayer life. I have known Professor Chandra Baskaran’s life in Christ and her strong faith in God for many years. Through this book, I have come to know of her deep prayer life and how she has been a blessing to many people and I praise God for that. Even as it is expressed in the beginning of this Foreword, this book is an invitation extended by her to Ask and Pray. Her personal life and her exemplary Christian life has been a blessing to many.

May God grant her grace to write many more books.

S. D. Daniel Abraham

THE AUTHOR SPEAKS

Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1

We once went to the house of my husband’s friend. He is a professor in Botany, St. John’s College. He received us kindly. Then he called his wife. She is a doctor. She was overjoyed on seeing us. She said, I can’t forget you and your prayer. You came to our house at the right time on your own and prayed and I can’t forget that. She took us to the living room and then went in. She came out with a lovely boy baby and placed him in my arms. Tears of joy filled our eyes. I was thrilled with joy seeing that baby. How great our God is! How mighty He is! I wondered at the great wonders that He performs. The doctor said with tears, Please bless this child and give him to me. It will be a great blessing to us.

The doctor continued, Even now I remember the prayer you offered with great burden. At that time, my husband was struggling with a heart problem. On the one hand, there was his heart problem, and on the other hand, our family problems. He had lost all hope of survival and was in great despair. A day passing by seemed to be ages. Both my daughters were not married at that time. It is this problem that affected my husband very much. The lives of our children posed a question mark. Fear and panic surrounded him. It was in such dark times that both you and your husband came to our house to pray. You prayed with great burden and tears. You told us at that time that my husband would be healed and happily witness the wedding of our daughter. Your prayer at that time of hopelessness gave us great comfort and new hope.

Today, my husband has seen our daughter’s child. Our sorrow has turned into joy. Again she asked me, How do you pray? How many hours do you pray? When do you pray? How do you get the answer? So many questions were put to me with eagerness. I said, I pray for two hours every morning. Finding time alone seems to be difficult. Otherwise, praying is a pleasure for me. I love my sweet hour of prayer and praying. She was astonished and said, I am not able to pray for more than five minutes. How do you pray for two hours? Also she asked me with real longing, What methods do you follow in prayer?" Her love of prayer touched me. Though she belonged to the medical profession, she was interested in prayer and holding conversations with the Lord. This longing in her to have fellowship with the Lord created a thought in my mind.

This sowed a seed in me to give counsel to those who wish to pray more effectively and for those who do not know how to pray. It led to my writing this book.

It does not matter how many hours one prays. It is only with what kind of heart and motive we pray that matters. Some of us pray well for some time. But, we are not able to pray with that same power in a sustained manner. Sometimes this love for prayer seems to diminish. Then, gradually it slows down and finally, there is nothing left. We then begin to feel bad about it.

In this book, a few points that we should follow in our prayer life are given. I hope that, as little drops of water make a mighty ocean, these small hints will bring a flood of prayer in your mind. I hope that they will be of great blessing to you and others. Prayer is a believer’s life breath. One who prays converses with one’s beloved in secret. Prayer