The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-08-20

IN public. Matt li.25. 15-26. Luke HIS
s iDha ~ III m Marx Gsee s bft9s e5s ssy Pssysls nai a
/ Puollc and In private. John Il; Mark l;so;
Luke e.lz Short. ejaculatOry prayers,
Matt. H;46; Luke 2s.34; John ll;4l; III
Prayer for friends, Matt 1913; Luke 2.sz;
John II. Prayer for enemies. Luke %
4 Prayer for himself (but always with the
thought OF others). Matt 26.ss; N:46
Cnrlsts > TEACHINGS about prayer:
Group !. Matt. 6.5, G.
Group 2 Matt. 81. s.
Group g. Matt6.s-13
Group 1. Mark II rs; Matt. 5:i4.
z:2l; Mark MS: Matt i7:20; Mark Ma
Group 9 Luke ISIS; ll:5-s.
Group 7. Luke ll:il-i3
Group g. Luke 1854
Grorp 3. Matt 1918, 20; s:s7. ss
Group 10 John l4.ls a. 1871, Is; 1873,
II was now late in the year A. D.
2s. or possibly early in 80. Jesus was
probably still in Perea. though the ex-
act locality is unknown. Jesus, in
these teachings about prayer, repeats
the several petitions Of that prayer
first given In his Sermon on the Mount
He doubtless found 1t necessary more
than once to teach thus particularly on
the all-important subject Of earnest
prayer, and also would naturally give
form Of prayer; but the differences
noticeable In the two reports-Matt.
6:9-13. and verses pa before us-show
that he placed no emphasis upon the
exact words. He sought rather, by this
model. to show in what spirit we
should approach God and what peti-
tions we may bring to him with assur-
ahce of being heard. Not yet did he
teach the disciples to pray "in his
name" That came later. At this date
they could not have understood It.
They needed first to learn to pray In
flial spirit, with and for others. and
to continue praying II the answer were
delayed.
The Lords Prayer-We somewhat
appropriately style the prayer which
Jesus taught ''the Lords Prayer" II
is our prayer--the prayer for every
child of God. 'Its distinctive charac-
teristics-the flial spirit and the fra
ternal spirit. The Lords Prayer is thus
nothing else than the summary Of the
law put into practice; and this sum
mary so realized in the secrecy of the
heart will naturally pass thence into
the entire life. ."-Godet. Il used TO
think the Lords Prayer was a short
prayer; but as | live longer, and see
more OF life, begin TO believe there is
no such thing as getting through II"
Our Heavenly Father knows no
favoritism; he is just as willing 70 an
swer the prayer of his humblest child
as that of the most mature saint. But
II is true that we need to be taught to
pray Now the same Teacher who
taught the apostles and early disciples
has been the Teacher Of every one who
has been mighty In prayer" since their
day. And he has not yet closed his
school, nor ever turned away one will
ing TO be a scholar. To him we too
may come and with sincere hearts offer
the prayer which is our Golden Text:
Lord, teach us to pray" Jesus will
not give us some magic formula, for
saying prayers is not praying, but
through his own words of teaching,
such as we have to-day before us. and
through practice drill. he will teach
and train us, so that we too may be
able to offer "the effectual, fervent
prayer" which "availeth much"
Jesus example, as we'll as his words
taught those who were associated with
him that II is mans high privilege to
pray 70 the great God. At one time
they asked Jesus, Teach us TO pray"
In replying he taught that we may
come to God as loving children to a
kind father, and that we may pray for
others as well as ourselves. Our first
petitions should be for the honoring Of
our Fathers name, the coming Of
Christ's kingdom, and the accomplish
ment Of Gods blessed will among men.
The Dead-Prayer Ofice.-What be-
comes of cl the unanswered letters?
Thousands Of them find their way to
the dead letter Office. Some never
reach the person TO whom they are ad-
dressed. because Of the postage not be-
ing paid; some fail because they are
directed to the wrong office; some can
not be sent because the address is IL
legible; and some because the matter
/ inclosed is illegible. These float
through the mails. are examined at diff
ferent Offices, marked 'Missent," and
finally they fall into the dead letter
Office There they are opened and
/ read, and If valuable. are forwarded:
If not. they are given to the flames.
Such Is the accuracy and skill Of the
post Office department, that very few
/ fail to reach their destination. Some
prayers never reach God because they
are not addressed to his Office They
are directed to the audience. Gods Of
fee is not in our neighbor's care, and
Il we direct our prayers to that point,
they will certainly go to the dead let
ter Office. Each Of the reasons why
letters go astray win hold good Of un-
answered prayers.-Advocate
Practical Points.
v ]. Only under the tuition Of a d.
vine teacher can we learn to pray
aright-Rom. s:2e. (Rev. ver)
" 2. We should recognize God as our
loving Father and come to him with
! holy conhdence.-Ps. 1913.
v. 2 We shall have our own and the
best way when We suffer the Spirit to
i rcuforr4 r4tr mile - r,Is~ ~--f1l