Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-04-30
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
ginning May 4. 1918.


ginning May 4, 1918.
Topie.-The ideal Christlan.--v. His
prayers.-Matt Vi. 5-12 tConseeration
meeting) Edited by Rev. Sherman II.
Doyle, d. ID.
The prayer selected for our study in
connection with this topic is the one
given by Christ to His disciples in the
Sermon on the Mount. commonly called
the Lords Prayer The instruction of
Christ in this passage may well be
our guide in studying the character OF
the prayers of the ideal Christian.
/. The ideal Christian must form the
habit of prayer. 1t goes without say
ing that he will have regular times for
prayer and regular places for prayer
and spend much time In secret prayer
and communion with God. This was
characteristic of Christ. He was faith
full in prayer. He spent nights In soli-
tude and alone in prayer to God. AT
the great crisis of His life He devoted
much time to prayer. He prayed pri-
yately and publicly He prayed for the
world, for His disciples and for Him
self. The prayer habit was fixed in His
life. The same must be true of the
ideal Christian, for how can he be ideal
In his Christianity unless be follow the
example of Christ In this most impor-
tant phase of soul life and develop
ment?
2. The ideal Christian should be sin
cere in prayer. Insincere praying is
but a mockery. The insincerity of the
prayers of the Pharisees was what
called forth Christ's instruction upon
this subject. They were hypocrites and
loved to pray in public places, to be
seen of men rather than to be heard of
God. But what matters 1t how much
we pray If God does not hear our pray
ersf The disciples were to pray rather
In secret, and God would hear and an
swer. Prevailing prayer should be the
aim and desire of all Christians, and
prayer can only prevail when it comes
from sincere and loving heart.
g. The ideal Christian should be def
mite In prayer. Christ is definite In
every attribute of the Lords Prayer
This is especially true of His petitions.
Glittering generalities are absent, and
definite petitions are offered for the
coming of Gods kingdom, for temporal
and spiritual needs. Our praying is too
often indefinite. We do not think OF
what we are saying and are careless
and Indifferent and formal even In such
sacred duty as prayer to God. We
should think seriously upon the sub
jects that we are to bring to Gods
mercy seat and ask only that in which |
we are definitely interested and place
our specific wants, temporal and spirit |
ual, before our God.
4. The ideal Christian should have
faith in prayer. Faith In Gods will |
ingness and ability to answer prayer
are assumed throughout the Lords !
Prayer. Why ask God to bring about |
His kingdom unless we believe that He
can hasten its coming? Why ask God
for daily bread unless we believe that !
God can and will provide US with the |
needs Of life? Why pray to God to |
forgive us our sins and TO keep us from
temptation If We do not believe that He
has the power and desire to do so?
Christ would never have taught His |
disciples to offer such petitions had He
not taken their faith for granted. Pray.
er without faith is failure. 1t brings
no answer. 1t comforts no discouraged
heart 1t inspires and benefits no dis |
Quoted soul. 1t leads neither TO re
pentance nor to satisfaction, but is a
vain and useless repetition Of words.