Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-12-18
PRAYER.

pray say, Our Father.-Luke XII, 2.
Jesus took it for granted that men
were going to pray. He always pray
ed himself. 1t was his habit, his ma
ture, his life. The evangelists fail to
tell us many things which he said and
did, but they make large room for his
prayers. His praying was n Of the
outstanding and awe inspiring feat
ures of his life. He was found pray
ing before every important step in his
career.
And what he did he expects all men
to do. To lift his eyes to heaven and
say Father was natural and easy,
but it is not so easy to many Of us,
and some of us have doubts as to its
reasonablcness and value, We are liv-
ing in an age when men are deter
mined to get if possible to the bottom
of things. Everything is subjected to
analysis, investigation, criticism. Pray
er, as all admit, has roots which run
down into the realms of mystery, and
it is not surprising that earnest peo-
pie should be asking many questions
about it.
They want to study the psychology
and chemistry Of prayer. This Is en-
tirely proper, but the study Of chem
The chemistry of bread is both inter-
esting and important, but the chemist
should eat his breakfast before he en-
ters on his studies. He will then be
better fitted for his work. Eating
comes first and chemistry afterward.
The psychology of sleep Is a most fas-
cinating study, but before all the prob
lens have been explored 1t is neces-
sary for a a to sleep. After n has
enjoyed a good nights sleep he is in
better humor for psychological investi-
cations. And so it is with prayer.
Prayer is n of the natural appetites
Of the soul. In prayer the soul finds
food with which 1t nourishes its life.
Before prayer is studied in it's scien-
tifc aspects let the soul commune long
with God. Praying is an instinct, a
deep-seated instinct in every unspoiled
heart. If it is safe to follow the hint
given by a falling eyelid and postpone
all study until the mind has been re-
freshed by sleep, so also Is it safe to
follow the instinct which at certain
times impels us to throw a passionate
wish Godward. If, then, you have
your questions, pray first and face
your questions %afterward. If you have
your doubts, pray first and then deal
with them one by one. The chemistry
m%oralizing if the study of it is made
a substitute for lifting ones eyes to
heaven and saying, Father" In the
words of Emerson, "As we'll might a
child live without its mothers milk as
a soul without prayer"
One reason why many persons have
lost faith in the efficacy of prayer is
because they and others have made
their prayers too small. Let us dis.
card the notion that prayer is simply
asking for things. Prayer is, first of
all, alteration, pouring out the soul in
the presence of manifested greatness
and beauty. When in the scriptures
we catch glimpses Of the worship
which goes on behind the veil we dc
not hear angel or a%rchangel or saint
asking for things. The burden of the
prayer is, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty" Surely we violate no Law
of the universe when W. adore.
Prayer is thanksgiving; it is giving
something to God. 1t is the glory OF
man to be able to return thanks. Ami
mails do not know how to feel or t.
say II thank you" But to feel graft
tude is human and to give expression
to It is always becoming. We will no
allow a boy to pick up our handker
chief for us in the street without som
vocal recognition Of his kindness
what shall we say Of men and womer
who take the good things which the
great God offers to them daily ant
turn away without ever once shying II
heart or by lip, II thank Thee?" Sure
, ly there is no law In Gods univers,
; which is transgressed by the expires
sion of glad and genuine gratitude.
Prayer is also confession. We hav,
all sinned and come short of the glory
of God. There is none r~ighteous-no
not one. We have all broken the CON
mandments of the Heavenly Father
and modern science has discovered
nothing which renders 1t unreasonable
. for a man to say to. God: IL hav'
sinned. l am sorry" The man wit
uamples on us in the street and hur
ries on without 80 much as II beg you
; pardon" is put down instantly as
t boor, and where does a nan belonI
who, SHINING against his Creator. neve