The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-03
RY WILLIAM T ELLJSN

One of the big things of religion,
which grows bigger the more it is con-
sidered, is this matter of prayer. So
used to it are Christians that they
scarcely pause to consider its magni-
tude. For, in simplest terms, prayer
is the power to move the power that
rules the universe. 1t means that man
may prevail with God. Some men have
tried to get around this stupendous
proposition by talking of the ''psycholo-
gical reflex of prayer; and by dis
coursing abstrusely upon psychic cur
rents which are affected by the mental
attitude of prayer. Most of which is
sheer bosh. If prayer, as taught by the
Scriptures and especially by Jesus,
means anything, it means that God
hears the petitions of His people, and
makes answer to them according to
His omniscient wisdom and His IA
ther-love. If this topic sets a few thou
sand persons to doing real thinking
upon the subject of prayer, it will have
added to the welfare of the world and
the power of the church.
Selfish prayers may scarcely be ad-
dressed with propriety to a God whose
other name is unselfish love.
What we need and what we ask for
are not always identical. God is likelier
to answer our wants than our wishes.
Prayer has not many conditions; if
it had, the ease and simplicity and
purpose of prayer would be defeated.
But belief and submission are essen
tials. God desires that those who ask
should trust; and, further that what
ever his answer they should be able
to say, Thy will be DONE"
Prayer produces peace. Nowhere else
are the wrinkles of care so quickly
he
seat. The Christian who is constant in
prayer wears serene and unruffled
spirit. Anxiety is displaced by trust
in the school of prayer. The confidence
that our times are in the Fathers
hands is wonderfully provocative of
peace. One of the lessons that the
prayer-taught early learn is, Casting
all your care upon Him, for He careth
for you
More things are wrought by pray
er than this world dreams off, sang
England's great laureate. Prayer is
the tie that puts the faith and power
of the disciple who is in one place into
the work of a disciple in another
place. Impaired Vitality is another
term for prayer. For by prayer we
share Through the medium of the
mercy seat a mother may help her child
resist temptation, friend may bear the
sorrows of friend. the Christian in a
circumscribed field may be a partaker
in the labors of missionary overseas,
the lonely may have companionship
with kindred spirits. and all the con-
Germs of the kingdom may unitedly be
borne by the servants of the kingdom.
Though sundered far, by faith we
meet,
Around the common mercy seat
Instant in prayer, constant in power.
The power that counts in Christian
work is not intellectual power or social
power, or any other form of worldly
wisdom. This truth cannot be too often
or too greatly stressed that only spir-
itual power avaiis for spiritual service |
Not native ability, but the might ac-
quired at the throne of grace, is what
wins victories for the kingdom of
heaven.
"A famous Philadelphia pastor was
once trapped in an evil house. whittier
he had been summoned on the pretext
of ministering to a sick woman. Did
he meet. scheming with scheming, sub
tlety with subtlety, worldly wisdom
with worldly wisdom? Not so. He stuck
to his own weapons Shared in COM
promising surroundings, he dropped on