Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-06-01

All nations have = word that means
prayer. Prayer Of some sort forms a
psrt of worship everywhere. But j. it0t
the right kind? Is it prsyer? To many,
it may be said Ie ask and receive
not, because We ask amiss."
The pastures which We Use will not
make lis to be heard. or cause Us to fail
to be heard. David lay on the ground
and prayed all night for his child, but it
died. Hezakish lay in his bed with hi,
fsce toward the wall, and prayed, and
Gsd added fifteen years to his life. The
Phsrisees stood st the corner. OF the
street e1d prayed and were not heard,
The publican stood " afar Of" from the
rest, IN the temple, and prayed, and was
heard We ought to assume q postureot
reverence. Kneeling is a very proper
posture. But the posture may be right
AMI the prayer worthless.
30 we may use the words Of scripture,
or we may Use III own words, and we
shall be heard, or not heard, according
As our hearts are right or wrong. Our
words may be very poor, and yet God
may hear Us. Our words may be very
fine, and vet VT may get no blessing.
Neither is God confined to any time
or place. We ought to be as much alone
&, We can, when We offer our secret
prayers. But it is right to unite with
Others in social and public payers in our
houses and in the house OF God, on the
Lords day and OF all days.
Whether God will hear s prayer does
not depend on its being long or short.
Repe;itions are not forbidden, but d" vain
r-petiti0us'' are. The publican's prayer
was short and was heard. The Phsrisee's
was long, and good for nothing. Still
prayers msy be too long. Let thy
words be few"
But We ak amiss when we DO not
res lis wish for the things We ak for
This j. mockiug God. Yet | fear many
do It. Augustine SAYS, that at one time
be PRAYED to Re preserved from S par.
.icl.ar in. but not yet. Sc 10 il.
tbs, you ,ruly desire what you ask for.
We sIs1 AK smis.. when we do not
look and .Jng for 81 answer to our pray
ers. When We send 8 letter 70 2 friend
We l11E for an snswer until one come,
- L We sre In good earnest when We
prsy. sc will az lzs; crT out % lord,
Row lsrr
i We would 70. vha. We asE, we
mus. ~ careful 70 DO 10 others as We
ak God - do n Us. T. you would Oh.
tain marcy tton G54. oe careful %
show mercy 10 sl srog1d sou. II yeu
.f Col 20 nsSe You happy, tfy -
usc= every one around you happy. ].
ygI wish Gr1 % pardon YOU, YOU must
not hs-z those who have done you harm.
II " .9-ztve %. men .neir t'espz,~e-
neither viii you: heavenly Father ;0r.
give YOU your trs,pssses
We ask ami.s, when We are no. willing
70 10 what God requires. A man may
pfsy Tor e good harvest. ye. if he COWS no
s=ed, the rirh harvest will lot come.
We may ask 10 he made holy, but II we
will not do wha. God tells Us and try 70
avoid sin. We will not be made holy
We NUT in our hearts hate all sin. il
We would have our prayers heard. at
] regard iniquitg in ny heart, the Lord
will not hear me-
We ask smiss, when we think hard Of
God ior nst giving u at once all We ak
for. We must be patient, and wait His
time. " waited patiently Tor the Lord,
and He inclined unto me and heard my
cry"
We ask amiss. when we do not ask in
faith. He that come,h 10 God must
believe that He il, ard that He is the
rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him Without iaithit is impossible to
please Him. We must see to it that we
have faith in God, and that we believe
in Jesus. We must ask all in the name
Of Christ He i. worthy. He says, " If
We ask anything in Ny name, ! will do
it," And our hearts must be in our
prayers.
Ii we ask Alright, We shall get what we
ask. For Christ has said, " Ask, and it
shall be given you seek, and We shall
find knock, and it shall be opened unto
YOU