Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-08-23
Why
Pray?
From Cbe Outlook

0N1b KNOW ABOUT Godg Very 1T
4 AN tie. What do you know
NlNS about the laws OF spiritual
IS intercourse? Very little.
Why. then, do you pray? We answer
with parallel questions. What do you
Know about electricity Very little.
What do you know about the laws OF
electricity Very little. Why. then.
90 you ride In n trolley car? We pray
Tor the same reason that we ride in
the trolley car. The trolley car brings
us TO our destination: the praying
gives us the inspiration OF comfort, Il.
Elimination and strength for daily
needs.
The skeptic asks: Is II conceivable
that God should set aside the laws OF
nature at the request OF one OF his
children? We answer that question
with another. Is II conceivable that n
fellow man should set aside the laws
OF nature at the request OF one OF his
fellow men? When your child Is sick,
Why do you call In n phyiscianf Can
he set aside the laws of nature? No,
but he understands the laws OF nature
better than you do. and by using them
brings back health to the sick child.
IL physician. whose knowledge and
power are limited, can do this, why
should We not believe that God, with
his larger wisdom and larger power
can do so? The argument of the
skeptic against prayer, based on the
uniformity OF nature. Is equally an ar
gument against all requests by one
person to another person and. indeed.
against all activity OF any kind The
uniformity OF nature does not prevent
us from helping one another. neither
does 1t prevent God from helping us.
Necessity for Asking.
But God already knows what thing
We have need of before we ask him;
why. then. should we ask him? VIII
he yield to our teasing what he would
not yield to our needs? No. But ask
Ing Is often the necessary condition
OF receiving. II Is useless for doc
to prescribe a medicine which the pa
tient Will not take. 1t is useless for
friend TO offer advice which mis-
friend Will not accept In truth. 1t is
generally unwise for n physician to
offer medicine until his prescription Is
asked for. and unasked advice Is rare.
ly serviceable. BY asking, n our ask.
ing is sincere, we open our eyes to the
divine result. our hearts to the divine
inspiration, as by going to n friend we
open our souls to the prefer OF his
friendship.
But prayer is not merely asking; II
Is communion, friendship, the inter
mingling of our life with Gods life,
conversation with the All Father.
Sometimes 1t is merly listening to
him. BE still and know that / am
God" is prayer. "Oh. that might
know that might find him!" is pray
or. Commune with your own heart
upon your bed. and be STILL" is prayer.
Speak, Lord, Cor thy servant is listen
ing" is prayer.
Humble Object Lesson.
A boy asks Of his father for a nickel
TO ride to school in the morning be-
cause he is late, and he gets II. Re-
turning in the afternoon, after supper
he sits down by his father in the
Pickering freight and tells the story
Of the school day; his successes. his
failures, his temptations, his strug- !
giles. victories and defeats, the good |
times he has had and the disappoint- |
ments he has suffered, and the In
Justices which have been inflicted |
upon him. and how he has carried HIM |
self In them ALL and his father simply |
listens and scarcely says word, and |
at the end of the half-hour's com.
munion the boy, who has asked for |
nothing but has received the inflow |
of his fathers life, goes to his bed |
rested refreshed. invIgorated ready |
to take up the duties and joys OF the |
next day with a new spirit Thus to !
tell our Father the story OF our life |
experiences. aud receive from our Ia
Their something Of the greatness OF
his own nature to flt us for what lies
before US, in prayer. To deny the pos
sibillty Of such prayer IL to deny an
experience as old and as universal as
humanity.