Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16

Marshal oyama. Suppose Oyama should
reply, Give me 100000 yacht and a trip
around the world The emperor would
say. II mean will give you anything you
ask, that is necessary in carrying forward
this war" This is the Limitation God puts
upon His promise. and in like manner the
spirit also helpeth our infirmity; for we
know not how to pray we ought, but the
spirit himself waketh intercession for US
with groanings which cannot be uttered; ;
what is the mind of the spirit. because He
maketh intercession for the saints accord
ing to the will of God. And we know that
to them that love God all things work to-
gethes for good I'VE ask and receive not
because we ask amiss" This is the bold
we ask anything according to His will, He
heareth u.s.
Faith is another condition of answered
prayer A student at college writes his
father for a remittance. How eagerly he
awaits the mail until the letter arrives and
the check rolls out. How few thus look for
answers to their petitions to the Heavenly
Father. Said Martin Luther, what does
it signify to have prayed, if you do not
know what God says to it?" Habbakuk,
having prayed, said, Il will stand upon. the
watch tower and watch and see what He
will say
"And all things, whatsoever We ask In
prayer believing We shall receive" For
without faith it is impossible to please God;
for he that cometh TO God must believe
that He is and that He is a rewarder OF
them that diligently seek Him.
Another condition is that we must work
as we pray. Daniel Quorm, an eccentric
character tells of stopping over night with
a gentleman who seemed to be a very pious
kind of man. At the family devotions in
the morning he prayed that during the day
they might be kept from sin; that they
might have Chrst-lke spirit; that the
love of God might be shed abroad In their
hearts by the Holy Ghost, etc. What
good man he must be-" thought Daniel
finding fault and scolding everybody in
house and field. In the evening Daniel
said to him: you must be very dis
appointed man. why, sir?" This morn
the love of God and freedom from sin, but
1, seems your prayers have not been an
swered You must be very much disap-
pointed" God will help US when He sees
we are enough in earnest to help ourselves.
Heaven is ready when we are ready"
We are often mistaken as to the results
of our prayers.
There are many answers to prayers Of
which we take no cognizance because they
do not come In some extraordinary or
miraculous way. Should we find bread In
the yard in the morning as the Israelites
found the mama, or should one loaf In
crease as the five loaves in the Savior's
hands, we would say This is the work of
God" Is the loaf upon the table that has
come by natural means any less the gift
of God?
Back of the snowy loaf is the flower
and back of the flower the mill; and back
the sun and the Fathers Wills
God may postpone the answer to our Pc
tition in order that He may test or de-
velop or exemplify our faith. Had Jesus
granted at once the request of the Syro-
Phoenician woman we should have missed
that story of humble. patient. triumphant
faith. His delays are not denials"
Our request may be refused that He may
grant US In It's stead better gift. Paul
prayed three times that his thorn in the
flesh might be removed God did not take
away the thorn because He knew that 1t
would be an instrument of grace to the
apostle. Il am glad, said the apostle,
that God did not answer that prayer, for
I have learned through this experience the
sufficiency of His grace and that His power
is made perfect in my weakness"
Think of the infinite loss If the prayer of
Jesus in Gethsemane, Let this cup pass
from me-" had been answered. THE cap
tain of our salvation was made perfect
through suffering He sees of the travail
of his soul and is satisfied
~ thank Thee, o my God for answered prayer;
For dreams come true thought too good to hold |;
For gifts SO preciors and for scenes fair
That they shall never vanish grow old.
And more l thank Thee for the gifts of Thine
i did not hope for In my widest thought;
The sweet surprises of thine oil and wine
Poured out when had never dreamed nor
sought.
Yet giving thanks for and surprise.
II is for this Thy goodness would boast;
That thou has sent. despite my pleading cries,
The thing did want. but needed most
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