The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-05-20


sonal and practical question. And the
fourth one: Do you feel free to go
to God at any time; are you 30 much
at home with God that you cannot
hold yourself back at times from go
ing and having talk with Himf
In prayer privilege that you enjoy?
Now. let us clear the field for ac-
ton by bringing the testimony OF
Christ before US. In the chapter that
I have Just read you will notice GER
tain ones coming to Jesus on q very
interesting occasion. They saw Him
praying, and when He got through
praying they Immediately came to
Him and said: Teach us to pray.
Lord"
It seems to me that that picture
comes right before our minds. We
can see Jesus kneeling there In
prayer. and there Is q radiance about
His countenance; there Ia q sincerity
about His voice; there Is an intimacy
In the whole atmosphere that sur
rounds Jesus, and the disciples who
are looking at Him feel, why, I have
never had an experience Of that sort
in my life; that man is enjoying some
thing wish could"
and bravely and say: Lord, teach US
to pray" And Jesus teaches the great
Lords prayer. And you will notice
that as He goes on down In His beauti-
full conversation with them He says:
KNOCK, and 1t shall be opened unto
you; ask. and ye shall receive"
Prayer is a privilege we may all
enjoy. Anybody, anywhere. any time.
anything. Observation-Disclosures shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved" Any time-"men ought al
ways to pray" Anywhere-you re-
member that woman CT Samaria, there
at the well. She had an idea that It
was necessary to go on long pilgrim
age to Jerusalem, to a certain par
ticular temple, In order to come In
communion with God. Jesus said:
woman, not Jerusalem; God Is a
spirit, and they that would worship
God must worship Him in spirit and in
truth Anything-in everything let
your requests be made known unto
God"
l will tell you three reasons that
are the real enemies Of prayer. 1t is
Interesting sometimes to look into
your life and ask yourself the ques-
ton: who are my enemies. after
allr They are not on the outside;
the real enemies Of prayer are on
the inside. And what are those things
in your life that make 1t difficult for
you to realize how near God is, and
how willing God Is to answer your
prayer? The first answer that very
naturally comes Is "Sin." 1t Is the
business of sin to close our eyes to
the presence of God; to separate the
soul from its Creator.
Who are the people who say: u
don't believe there Is God?" They
are those who don't believe that there
Is any God. because their lives are In
condition of sin. Sin creates in ouI
hearts distaste for prayer.
The second enemy Of prayer is "Rea
SON." Reason would take the bread
out of the hand of starving child
Reason would go to the bedside Of q
sick and dying soul and would take
the wise physician and drive him
away from the bed. Reason would
even reach its arm out into the sky
and tear God out OF the universe. II
It only had the power to do It. Reason
is one Of the biggest blessings and one
of the biggest curses that this world
has ever had; It all depends upon
whether reason Is In its rightful place
or not.
Then there Is another enemy, and
| that Is "Formality" Some of IN arr
taught to pray at this hour or thai
hour: some are taught to pray in thu
morning or at night when we retire
But the very minute that you dis
cover that formality In prayer IL be
coming simply little fetch that yos
are putting in the place of God. tina
moment stop right where you are and
say: God forgive me; have beef
making q little fetch out Of prayet
and that little fetch has biszded mi
to thy presence"
Let me place upon your lips tws
| prayers. The FIRST one: "Oh. God
help me to realize Thy presence" AM
when you feel God coming RICH
through the darkness and standinl
fright In front Of you, your prayers vii
become . real blessing to you. Alhc
place on your lips this prayer: soh
God! help me to be very hone@t IN "a,
prAyerr And the peace that 'passstl
Al understanding ehall keep you
heatts and your minds n Cnfls