Ellsworth American., 1909-08-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
0raysr Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Aug. q, 1903.

Topic-Two prayer lessons. Matt vi.
Z 6: xix. 19. 20.
To some people the idea of being
taught to pray may seem repugnant.
But this should not be their feeling,
for II we are taught. as we are. how to
address man. how much more should
we learn how to address God, There
IS no place in the Christian religion
where we are more irreverent than in
prayer. ] do not refer so much to our
attitude while another prays. though
there Is enough irreverence here The
angels approach God In the most rev
erential way. exclaiming. Holy, holy.
holy, Lord God Almighty On the
other hand, men approach Him most
carelessly. and during prayer by an
other the LATEST and loGngiest attitude
is assumed But these things. while
serious enough. are not so serious as
the irreverence which have in mind.
Many more think of learning how to
pray, of studying the Biblical and
other prayers as ideals. Others. again.
form no idea OF what they are going TO
say In prayer They never In any
sense prepare their prayers. II called
upon to address men they want time
for preparation. but no preparation Is
necessary to address God. If they ap-
proach king every method of proce-
Cure is thoroughly studied. hut in aP-
preaching God no such preparedness is
considered necessary. Any thoughts
that happen to come to their minds
may be addressed TO God. But prayer.
approach to God. is most sacred act
Of devotion. and we should learn to
pray and approach God in the most
<,evout manner. John taught his dis
= iples to pray. and. inspired by their
example, the disciples Of Christ asked
Him to teach them to pray. lie did
not hesitate and gave them compre-
hensive yet brief prayer as an exam
Iile. Moreover. on other occasions He
taught them how and where 10 pray to
obtain the answers.
The first lesson is on sincerity in
prayer. The first truth teaches how not
TO pray, And when thou prayest.
thou shall not be as the hypocrites
are" The hypocrites prayed to be
seen of men and not so much to b.
heard Of God. If on the way to the
temple at the hour of prayer. when
the time came those who had not ar
rived stood where they We're and Of
fered up their devotions. The Phari-
sees were often purposely late and
stood on the corners and made very
long prayers that men might see how
devout they were regardless of Gods
attitude toward them. There was no
sincerity in such prayers. and Christ
in this lesson teaches US against pray.
ing after such fashion. He then fol
lows with lesson on how to pray.
Thou, when thou prayest. enter thy
closet. and when thou hast shut thy
door pray to thy Father which is in
secret" Let US remember that Christ
refers here to personal. individual
prayer and not to praying in public.
In personal prayer secrecy is an es
sential. No public parade, but to the
secret place We should go and then
shut the door. Absolutely shut of
from the world, prayers will be truly
sincere. We will face God as we are.
and why any other way? For no one
sees or hears but God, and He knows
us already. Secret prayer should be
rewarded openly. God will testify to
our success.
The second lesson is on unity in
prayer, IF two Of you shall agree on
earth as touching anything that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them
by My Father which is in heaven.
for where two or three are gathered
together in My name. there am l in
the midst of them Where there is
agreement there is usually no selfish
ness or pride. II two agree 1t is
good sign. And II they pray for that
on which they are agreed the answer
Is sure to come, for Christ is with
them, interceding for them.
s BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. ', IA; xviii, 1-3; Xxx, 10; Matt.
VI us; Luke II. lib; viii, Hit; John
", %: Acts !. 12-14; Xii. 1-s; Eph. lii.
1921.