Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-08-06
UNANSWERED PRAYERS.
BY Rev j. D. Leek.

~ kef. y. ID. Leek.
There is sense in which all prayers
are answered either by obtaining the OBJ
Ject sought or by securing something far
better adapted to the ultimate end of all
true prayer-perpetual happiness through
unbroken goodness.
All prayers will be answered when they
accord with wisdom, unselfishness and
the highest good.
To answer every petition literally I'M
der the present order Of things would
make infinite wisdom the slave of human
caprice, absolute holiness a partner in
human folly, and boundless compassion
the author of endless cruelty.
Prayers are sometimes unanswered be-
cause Of the character and tendency OF
the objects sought. Men, like children.
frequently crave those things which
would be destructive TO their best in
terests, both here and hereafter. Like
Elijah under the juniper tree, they pray
for that which falls far below the high
est good, and like Paul, with his thorn
in the flesh, we too often seek ease rather
than strength. 1t is better to have grace
to bear BURDENS than to be weak and
free from liurdens.
Prayers sometimes remain unanswered
| because they spring from wrong motives.
The soul OF real prayer is unselfishness.
Prayer in the case OF Simon Magus was
ignorant, because 1t sought the mere graf
ification of worldly pride.
The farmer who prays to save himself
from labor will never secure a harvest.
Israel at the Red Sea may call upon God
until doomsday without avail unless they
obey the divine eco forwardr' Mali
ciousness will find no aid or comfort in
prayer. The "as thou wilt" of Jesus is
the true standard of acceptable petition.
Sometimes answers are sought in vain
because divine methods Of answering are
rejected. There is no use praying for
rain without clouds. If one prays for a
disposition of sweet sympathy he may
be compelled to accept the breaking pow
er of sorrow.
There is a divine method in every nat
ural and spiritual realm. Every grace of
the spirit must be purchased by sacrifice.
The chisel and the mallets are instru-
mert7 by which beauty clothes the mar
bic. Purity often comes only by fire.
The greatest attainments come at the
greatest cost. The pebbles are smooth
and symmetrical by the crashing Of the
Hoods on the shore: Joseph's troubles
paved the way to Joseph's throne.
Through prison window John Bunyan
saw the triumphs of his pilgrim. True
prayer must accept the price of its an
swer.
Pray to see Europe and you must ac-
cept the ocean voyage. Pray for physi-
cal power and you must accept discipline.
Pray for spiritual power and you must
accept self-sacrifice.
Prayer is sometimes unanswered be-
cause of nonobservance of the conditions
of true prayer. A purpose to do the will
of God is the fundamental requirement in
prayer. Without this prayer is not heard.
God listens to mans voice when man
listens to Gods voice. 1t must also be
addressed to the Father in the name of
the only acceptable 0ne-Hjs Son, Je-
sus Christ.
Cain prayed in his own name and went
out with fallen eountenance. Abel came
through the lamb Of atonement and was
accepted.
The motion of human prayer to be eff
fective must be seconded by the Divine
Mediator. When prayer is prompted by
the Holy Spirit, accompanied by simple,
childlike confidence, offered in the name
of the Savior, from pure motive, and
the petitioner is willing to accept the
wise, just and divine method of answer
ing, it will be heard in heaven and grant
ed by Tufnite Love