The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-17

HuIldn icNeiS is unaDic TO cOmpre-
hensively grasp circumstances, and
conditions, and events of life. His
estimates are narrow and distorted,
his judgments biased and warped,
his desires selfish and self-centered.
But let him mount on the steps Of
prayer to the presence of God, and
he has gained a vantage ground
from which he ear view surrounding
conditions and needs and learn Gods
will. To really pray the words of
our text n must cut loose from
every prejudice, every selfish and
unworthy motive, every narrow pur-
pose, and stand with God.
When Christ taught His disciples
to pray this prayer He did not mean
that God was to be brought around
to mans will, but that man was to
be led to know and do Gods will.
And we know that to-day this is the
rue purpose of the prayer; that
wherever in the earth the will of
God is not being done, the condi-
tions may so be changed as to bring
man and events into harmony with
Gods will. And we know, further
more, that n who goes to God
with this petition and tarries long
enough in the Divine presence to
learn something of what Gods will
for the earth is, returns with a
Divine commission to help bring
that will to pass.
Standing With God.-To offer the
prayer of our text, which is done
by nearly everyone who believes in
and worships God, makes one a
partisan of God, places him upon a
platform which declares for a pol
icy for earth similar to that prevail
ing in Heaven, and makes him a
party henchman obligated to work
for the success of that policy. To
stand with God means submission.
That is an attitude of mind and.
heart towards God which is willing
to yield personal desires and am
billions that Gods will may have
perfect opportunity to operate
through US. Self-will will not allow
one to stand with God. 1t rises as
an insurmountable wall between the
individual and God, and must be
broken down before Gods presence
can be gained. Jesus condemned
many in His audiences at various
times as 'stiff-necked and uncir-
cumcised in heart" because they had
set their will up against the will of
the Almighty, and were not willing
to yield to Him because they saw
that Gods will was not in accord
with their preconceived notions.
submission does not leave for
discussion or argument. One cannot
gain the presence of God on the pre-
text of submitting to His will, and
then enter into an argument in an
effort to win the Almighty over to
his way of thinking. Submission to
God is not the AYE, aye, sir" of
the son of the parable whose ia
ther requested him to go and work
in the vineyard but who went not,
but it is exemplified by the son who
at first rebelled against the fathers
will and refused to go, but who aft
erwards repented and went.
But standing with God means more
than submission, it means confidence,
and perhaps we ought to place it first.
Confidence, not in self, not in ones
wisdom or abilities, or power, but con-
tidence in God. On the face of it this
seems like an unnecessary state
ment. One might ask, who has not
onnfIonon in HAIO n1{nn +ha atha
hand, in the light of actual fact, how
many really have confidence in God?
In the world to-day there is very lit
tie confidence shown in God. Man
would rather trust man than God;
would rather rely in his w plans,
and his own ability to carry out those
plans, than rely on God. The test of
how much confidence man has in God
is found in mans readiness to obey the
word of God. My friend says to me:
81 would not invest my money in that
enterprise, if | were you" And he
then goes on to tell why he thinks it
will be unwise and unsafe. The amount
proven by the closeness with which I
follow his advice. The amount of con-
fidence | have in God is shown in the
same way. If God speaks and / heed
not His voice, surely my confidence is
not in Him. Gods Word declares:
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust
also in Him, and He shall bring it to
pass. Fret not myself because
of him who prospereth in his way, be-
cause of the man who bringeth wicked
devices to pass. Cease from anger. and
forsake wrath; fret not myself in any
wise to do evil. For evil doors shall
be cut off; but those that wait upon
the Lord. they shall inherit the earth"
Scripture abounds with Illustrations
of the practical working out of this
passage from the Word of God. We
have time to refer to but one. David,
who wrote the words, lived them out
in his life in a wonderful way and
declaration of God. While a mere boy
Gods prophet had anointed him king
over Israel. He committed his ways
unto the Lord, he trusted in Him, and
the Lord brought it to pass in His own
good time. After his great victory
over Goliath, and he had become a resi-
dent of Saul's palace and was given
the daughter of the king to wife, per-
haps he thought he was soon to realize
the promise of God. But instead of a
crown he was forced to endure hard
ship and persecution; instead of the
luxury and ease of kingly authority
he was forced to eat the bread of af-