The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-28

~ sorry prayer. and
teaching concerning the chief object
OF prayer. which is the holy spirit.
Indeed. this eleventh chapter OF Luke
Is the most comprehensive teaching
on the subject Of prayer that the
Bible contains.
And where 10 the great teacher
now Seated at the right hand OF
God. where "He ever liveth to make
intercession for US" And could our
spirit-ears be opened, could we hear
him as he pleads for US and for the
lost world. am sure our hearts would
grow tender. and our eyes moist. and
with trembling lips we too should say.
Lord. teach us how to pray"
We remember how Abraham prayed
Lot out Of Sodom. and Nehemiah
prayed himself into the good graces
Of the king. and Elijah shut up the
heavens for three years. and the
friends OF Peter prayed him out OF
prison: and all these were men OF
like passions with ourselves. Lord,
teach US to pray. Yes. to pray" We
can recall many utterances which
passed for prayer. but which We fear
the master would not recognize a.
such-selfish prayers. thoughtless
prayers. which had no aim or pur
pose. prayers from which We did not
expect an answer, did not look for an
answer. and would have been might.
lily surprised II an answer had come
And all Of these have gone up to
the mercy-seat with our names upon
them. and there they lie In the
archives OF heaven unanswered. be
cause unanswerable. Oh. friends, Il
IL one thing to make . prayer. II 10
quite another thing to pray. Lord.
teach US how to pray. How sugges-
tive that phrase 10. Make . prayer"
A. II prayer could be made to or.
der. whether there was any occasion
for II or not! But to pray. to really
talk with God. and bring things to
pass. that 10 . privilege which angels
might covet. and an art which 10
worthy Of o lifetime Of study.
The Chinese write their prayers on
bits Of paper and throw them into the
air. hoping that they may be blown
up to heaven. The Hindus have
praying machines. and express their
devotion by turning q crank. The fol.
lowers of Mohammed Ave times q day
fall upon their knees wherever they
are at the hour OF prayer. and call
upon God.
How much we need to be taught!
How often we ask for things which
II were better for US not to have.
while the things we need most are sell
dom mentioned. Paul was right when
he said. I'VE know not what to pray
for as we ought" How little we real.
ize the willingness OF God to answer
prayer! Too often he is addressed as
a capricious tyrant from whom bless
ing can be obtained only by persist
ent teasing. instead OF q loving father
who lives and labors for his children's
welfare. How little we perceive the
scope OF the promises! We see the
surface meanings. perhaps. but the
depths-Oh. the depths, How little
we understand the deep things OF
God!
How little we understand the rela.
tion OF prayer TO Christian work. The
common idea is that work is the main
business. OF a Christian, and a little
prayer is necessary to help the work
along. Work Is the strong bow which
supplies the force to speed the arrow
on its way, while prayer Is the feather
which tips the arrow. and helps guide
II to its destined mark. Christ's idea
is entirely different. In his concep-
tion prayer is the chief business OF a
Christian, with Just enough work to
make a channel through which the
spiritual forces generated by prayer
may find an outlet Prayer is the bow
which supplies the force, and work is
the feather which guides the arrow to-
wards its destination. III ye shall ask
i will do" he says. In other words.
Christ is still doing the work which
he began to do" ACTS I'D. and he
invites US to help him by PRAYER.
Yes, we are ignorant. but thank
God we can all learn. Jesus has
opened a school of prayer in which.
II we will. we may learn the divine
art. And what a teacher! How pa.
tient. how longsuffering with duh
scholars! And how much he knows
about the subject! For eighteen hun
bred years this has been his constant |
occupation. and now he invites US TO
become his pupils. and offers to teach
US all he knows. "All things that l !
have heard from my father, I have |
made known unto you" John 1919.