Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Ube 9beal CHRISTIAN.
Dis prapers.
Bp Keb. Dr. Glopo 0M. Tomkins.

Wnen We pray. we are up, We
think We are pretty good and pretty wise,
and cannot see that We are poor and mis-
cradle and blind II is when We simply
fall before our Christ, in all humility,
knowing that We are nothing worth IN
ourselves, and that We can live only as
He lives in us, that We find the joy of
drinking from the fountain of life the
strength that floods into us and makes US
brave and patient
Honesty comes next, and it demands a
full and free confession of sin and OF
need without the framing of any excuse.
When L go to my physician he wants to
know everything about me. He quite
disregards the particular ailment or
which ] complain while he asks a hum
dred questions about food and sleep and
exercise which seem quite aside from the
mark What he wants is a full confess
sion, that he may know me thoroughly
and SO know how to help me. The Great
Physician demands the same honesty.
He questions me and / have to go
down into my heart and find a great
many things which L hardly knew were
there and bring them out. Prayer Is
complete barring of our lives before the
Redeemer. Ny very motives must be
honestly acknowledged. My mistakes. my
willful errors my failures to do what l
ought to have done, my feelings about
other people, my selfish forwarding of
personal interests regardless of others
all this must be confessed, either in full
detail or with sweep of memory and a
knowledge of self which shall make me
cry: There is no health in me- 1t is
the souls honesty that brings the bless
ing Of pardon and peace from God.
When the children Of Israel had trouble.
as in the case of Achan Josh. -, their
leader was forced by Jehovah to search
out the cause of offense which was hid
den. 1t is one of the splendid lessons
which we learn from the Old Testament.
And when pray we are to search our
hearts that we may see wherein We have
erred; that in our honest realization OF
sin we may be ready to receive the good
ness of God.
Never keep anything back or gloss any
thing over when you pray, my friend.
1t is not necessary to tell other people,
but you must tell God. that He may help
you. Often the real trouble which makes
us sad and unhappy lies hidden from our
sight and we must search for it and
bring it out and call 1t by its right name.
Away down in the darkness IL is hiding,
and we wonder why We are SO faithless,
so miserable, when here Hes the poison
which is working all through our spir-
itual and mental system. ! have known
SO many cases Of misery and doubt and
even unbelief which have been caused by
some unacknowledged sin or some un-
forgiving spirit toward another We
must be honest and tell God everything
and confess wrongs without excuse IL We
would be really and lastingiy happy
Above all else. and including in itself
numlnty ana honesty, STANDS lONe. Nltn-
out which prayer is worse than useless.
If l pray l want to love Him to whom
| pray. and / want to love goodness and
His will and service for Him. OF course,
this love may not be very strong at first.
l may pray from a sense of need or from
the bitterness of my soul as weary and
troubled.I fly to my Refuge for safety
and rest, and such an approach is not
unworthy, only it is not the highest and
best spirit in which to come to One who
loves me with an everlasting love.
But IL / continue to pray there comes
a delight in the very act of praying.
rest and peace enter into me the moment
drop all else and come to my King And
this is followed by love for Him. which
grows upon me in such fashion that IT
absorbs all my troubles and fears. and
makes me unconscious of my definite
wants. while / make the burden of my
prayer those dear words OF A. }. Cor
don:
NV Jesus / love Thee. ! know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies OF sin resign;
MY gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou.
IL ever loved Thee. my Jesus It's now.
Such love makes prayer new thing.
1t makes heart and mind and soul ana
body unite In communion with the dear
Lord who died to prove His love for us
and who rose again to make it our eter-
nal Inheritance From our prayer We go
to our work with our beings all aglow
with zeal and conservation. The hardest
tasks become easy. The heaviest burdens
grow light. Earth's shadows roll away
them of peace sings its music in the
soul.
They all praying. praying.
Breathing their wants 70 Thee;
Birds In the uplands straying,
Lives of the land and sea,
Songs at the heavenly portals.
Walls In the forest wide,
Signs from the heart of mortals
Weary OF pomp and pride.