Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
Twelve Great Verses;
The Prayer Verse
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REV. FLOYD w. ToaiKlNs.

rsstTst. Matt. ski.
Our Lord. speaks of prayer man.
,EncsStn the gospels, and Hc set an
sf;lntnle iby praying Himself. We may.
bf sure. lltherefore, that prayer Is not
only lon essential part OF Christianity.
llgion. s., go III
Prayer lis the tCbristian's vital, breath,
Tne, Christian's native, air."
We cannot really live without prayer
any more than. VIC can live without
nreathlnG,rands the real Christian finds
PRAYER just as natural as breathing.
ite5 does not reason about II ory,try to
explain why he should pray. or how or
@nen. iin..tust :prnys. that Is nil. just
ne he breathes. from the. cradle to the
grave, soEietimes think we argue
aHhS6 piiilosopniEe too much about
prayer,:.as II II were n mystery. rtiis
aliE'lght to@eaplain about the use OF
the lungs and what breathing does.
and now we ought TO breathe to. get
the mont good from the ozone, and
oxygen Of, the air; but who ever
heard of physician telling his
patient that he iust breathe?, II
q minister to urge his people
TO pray. because prayer. is normal,
natural, necessary
Prayer is fellowship with God re-
sulting from the fact that He IL our
Father, Saviour and Guide. 1t IS IA
consciousness OF fils presence and caro-;
n faith In Him. which Is as instructive
as the faith OF child In hie father,
love for Hin as the best and ever
present friend, a 10y In Ills nnarness.
present Friend, n JOY In Ills nearness.
because therein lies the assurance of
safety. Prayer is listening to God,
oheyins God, serving God. 1T is asking
God for what VIC need and knowing
that II II lis good for us He will give
IL atroncc- Prayer is the resting In
Gods great arms OF lovo; IL Is find
ing peace In the very thought OF Him;
1t Is an anticipation OF tho great ,day
when we shall see Him face to face
We love to pray because God loycs us
and we love Hin. =
NEED FOR SPECIAL
SEASON OF PRAYER
There are certain times when we c.
Decialiy bring ourselves to a conscious
ness Of Gods presence and Jesue' love
and the Holy Spirits guidance, and
these times we cal l"the hours OF
prayer We lay aside our ordinary
work or play. and go into a solitude
where The rush and worry OF life can
not enter; we give ourselves of medi
,atson: we come into His presence
not as " NE were not always In His
pEcsencc. but with a special realizo-
hungry and thirsty souls 10 Him that
lie may refresh and strengthen us; we
hear from Him u message OF loving
care and we leave, at Hts feet the bur-
uen OF our sorrows and isinH because lie
has promised TO carry them for US. Sucl,
tilnes OF prayer are morning. noon and
night our hours Of worship in church,
and the moments when we turn aside
being especially burdened or unusually
happy. to look up into Ills face and
receive His benediction. speak :. OF
moon" as time of prayer. because
David declares that he -praye then
and TO the Christian the noon hour
when almost universally work Is cas-.
aside and we take refreshments, liz
sacred because at that hour Christ
hung upon the cross, stretching forth
Ills loving arms and so crying: Come
unto Ne" X is a good sign of an in
creasnS strength OF Christianity that
the noon hour us n time for prayer,
especially for missions, Is being to day
20 generally. observer. oven IL we can
not go to our rooms or 10 church az
that hour, we can lift up our souls
wherever we arc and thank the Christ
for the life which comes to US through
HIS precious cross and passion.
OFFERING PRAYER TO
a WILLING Con
In our pray crs lc; us remember the
order:.slD silence and alterations; ,(2)
listening. ahile' God speaks; (3) thanks
giving: @HD Intersections for others;
t1l petitions for our own nceds-pardon
fo- our Gins and strength to do our
work. This IS really the order suG-
scsted by the Lords Prayer. We mus,
remember that we are not praying to
a God Who is unwilling 10 hear, but
70 Hin, Who anticipates our coming and
Is more willing to hear than We are
10 pray. We should come without
In n ~ sakxl
humility, and We must pour. our SOULS
DEGREES in all contidence, jus, as q
troubled child pours into "a loving
mothers car all the story OF his GRIEF.
Never let US think that we shall be
hsard for our muca speaking. a sigh
4 tear. or smile is understood by Him
Who looks into our hearts and loves
US dearly Never let us question fIis
Willingness to- Sivc ns all that we ask
FOR, and II the answer docs not i'm
Inediately come let us remember tina,
Gods time. is the best. time and Ills
way the best WAY. Let us rise and go
on in our life With peace in our hearts
for we have His blessing. Ilis hands
have been laid on our heads, and we are
His to shelter and defend Finally. lot
7 us remember that God wants som thing
aa,well as We. He1longs for an express
sion Of our faith in. Him. and we want
otcll Him that we love Him and trust
Him; and that VIC, wifi try. By, HIS help,
TO do what Ht., asks. OF. uS.
Noticet three expires siops in, this great
prayer verse. First, all things" All
that interests us, interests God. TEN
poral and spiritual blessings, our work,
our play. 'our friendship, our joys
our trials. business. Journeys, plans,
hopes, fears--all these arc part OF
prayer because God is God, re has
n care for ns in. all the incidents Of
onr life. Some people think thai
Christ by "all things means oniy
spiritual blessings, but our Lord never
uscn that wonderful word "ail" in a
limited way. Hc Who notes "a spor-
rows fail and numbers the hairs of
our head-ncither of, which we can
do---takes all our.interests and expert
cpces as His own and wishes TO give
His blessing to each, if We will only
receive II. There is an old hymn
used 70 sing in ;ny childhood, begin
ming. Jesus, my strength and hope
3 (H:ritten, 7 think, By Charles Wesley