Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-15

Lldu. oy "a AZ S@AS AA~sA'~
child of God.
What is Prayer7
Prayer has been defined as AN Of
,ering up of our desires unto God for
things agreeable to his will, In the
name Of Christ, with the confession OF
our sins and thankful acknowledg-
ment of his mercies." Yet prayer is
more than this; 1t is dialogue, not
monologue; 1t Is vision as well az
voice; 1t Is a revelation as we'll as
supplication. Prayer is not a mere
venture and voice Of mine, but
vision and voice divine.
In the heart of every one prayer is q
sense of need, but sense OF need
Is not prayer. Prayer is asking for a
felt need and asking God, not the uni
verse, for 1t. Prayer is more than an
asking, 1t is a receiving, hearing,
learning of God, a converse and COM
munion in which he has much to say
and we have much to hear and learn.
The day in which we live Is 80 full
Of possibilities that an intelligent man
will not consider anything impossible.
Years ago Morse was considered
fool because he asserted the possibill-
ty of communication between Wash
lngton and New York. Likewise Mar
conf was laughed at when he first ad-
vocated the idea Of wireless teleg-
raphy. Time and experience, how
ever, have proven that these men
were wise and not foolish
Prayer IL made possible to the
Christian because ofi the revelation
Christ has brought to the world, OF
the Father. It is only when we uri-
.derstand the true nature Of God that
prayer. becomes possible. This reve-
lation is brought to US only through
Christ's Interpretation Of God. The
god of science and philosophy does
not furnish any incentive to pray.
Balm, the scientist, describes the god
of science as a double-faced some
thing-mind and foree-which lie be-
hind all natural phenomena.
God Is Called Father.
It is a remarkable thing to notice
In almost every instance In the New
Testament that when God Is referred
to In connection with prayer he Is
called Father. This in itself is an
encouragement to prayer, as well as
indicating that prayer is a possibility
1t is expected that child will ask Its
father for things 1t would not ask
stranger for. The fatherhood OF Goo
Is not only motive to prayer, but at
the same time thought which makes
prayer both desirable and possible.
Do find it hard to do as some peo-
pie tell me-namely, ito pray all
night"-let me not be discouraged,
but remember that "like as father"
God deals with his children. do not
ask of my own child that he agonize
all night when presenting to me
request. But you may say, Il am not
sure that l obey properly" l. reply,
Like as a father" Does an earthly
parent not grant his child any petit
ton until he properly obeys? Like
as a father" But, you say, II do not
understand God" Who does? Shall
father not grant a child's request
until he is understood by the child?
Then the child's request will never be
granted. Like as father pitieth hif
children, 80 the Lord pitieth them
that fear him."
But the Father to whom we are
to pray is an almighty Father, one
who is absolutely sovereign and om-
nipotent There are no difficulties
with God, and we must always re-
member that more things are
wrought by prayer than this world
dreams Of" Whatever may be our
opinion of the unohangeableness OF
Gods laws, we must never forget
that every promise made to the pray
erful soul shall be fulfilled BY Q
SOVEREIGN God, even though ten thou
sand OF what we call Interchangeable
laws need to be ESQ oalled) broken.
La Il not true that We ourselves
bveak laws to supply the needs Of our
own children? If my little child IL
dying Of a burning fever in the middle
Of August and calls for ice when the
temperature registers 100 degree, II
I know enough l can make ice. even
though the temperature stands at 100.
and answer the prayer Of my child. II
nv boy Is falling from third story
window, and hearing his afrighted
call I rush to his help and catch him
ere he touches the ground not only
save his life, but I break what may
be called an Interchangeable law
namely, the law Of grayitadon. SO
may we believe all things are possible
NTH God