Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-09-11
CHRISTIAN EHOEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING Sept. is. 1912


Topic.-Getting the most from prayer
H. Doyle. d. d.
1t is only right and proper that we
should aim TO get the most and the
best, in the truest sense. out of every
thing in life. We should never be sat
isfied with anything but the best. This
is especially true of religion and Of
everything that pertains to 1t. The
highest act of religious worship Is
prayer-direct communion with Cod
and If we should seek to get the most
from the less important of orr re,ig-
ious exercises. much more should we
from the supremest of them-the most
from our God, the most from our
selves and the most for the develop
ment within us of the highest and tru-
est type of a real and vital spiritual
life.
The Psalm selected for our topical
reference makes several suggestions
that may help us In our efforts to get
the most from prayer:
/. Prayer should be accompanied
by praise. 81 will bless the Lord at
all times; His praise shall continual
" be In my mouth" Prayer is not
simply petition. 1t should to a large
extent consist of praise. How can we
rightly commune with our God unless
we praise Him for what He is and for
what He has already done for us?
David was facing exile, and yet he
found room in his heart to praise God
as a part of his prayer unto Him. We
should praise the Lord continually and
never approach His throne of grace ex.
cept in the spirit of praise and adora-
ton.
2 Prayer should be definite and
specific This, of course. applies TO
the petitions in our prayers. There is
much Saying of prayers that is not
praying. We are often not even honest
in our prayers. We ask God for what
we do not want We simply go
through the form of prayer and have
not its true spirit There are vain
repetitions," but We are not heard for
our much speaking. Aimlessness
should never be a characteristic Of
prayer. David was in danger and told
the Lord about it and was delivered
from all his fears. The poor man was
troubled because of his poverty. He
cried unto the Lord about that one
thing, and 1.-The Lord heard him and
delivered him out Of his troubles"
The publican in Christ's parable want
ed mercy and simply cried out, God
be merciful TO me, sinner" and his
prayer was answered. No one can get
the most from prayer who thoughtless-
" and aimlessly cries unto God. Let
us be definite and honest in all our re-
quests unto our God.
8. Prayer should be accompanied
by faith BLESSED is the man that
trusteth in Him" We all acknowledge
that prayer without faith is vain, but
do we always have faith in prayer?
The early church prayed for the re-
lease of Peter from prison, and yet
when he appeared he was hooked upon
as spirit. A congregation met to pray
for rain. and yet only one of them
took an umbrella to the meeting, and
that one was small boy who proved
his faith by his works. Many of US
would be surprised If our prayers were
answered. And why? Simply from
lack of faith. We ask and receive not
because we lack faith either in Gods
power to do or in His Willingness to
do. The more we believe the more we
will get out of our prayers. The great
er our faith the greater viii be 1.-The
blessings In r1reyarp