The log cabin Democrat., 1916-02-21

l II $9SSee q I'LL lSlidIi, Oub-
pose you are will
-MMz M ling to leave the
matter to his de-
cision. Let us kneel right down here
and ask him. l will pray first, and
then you follow"
The young man could not consistent
ly refuse. He knelt with her, and at
the close of her prayer he began to
pray himself. He had not uttered
three sentences before he sprang to
his feet, saying, Il see it, 1t is not
wight. l will give it up at once"
In this case prayer was answered
Immediately but in many cases the
answer is long delayed
When Mr.. George Muller was in this
country friend of mine asked him
how long he had ever prayed continu-
ously for any object. Taking a littlo
/ book from his pocket, he said. When
/ was converted l was wild boy In
college. My conversion broke friend
shlp between my roommate and my
Self, for he would have nothing to dc
VAta ooSi q AoilotiS, uC oulu 1 WIOle
ais name in this book and promised
God that l would pray for him each
day until he was converted, or until
l died. / prayed five years with no
apparent result. Ten years went by
with no change. l continued on for
fifteen years-twenty years, and still
he was an unbeliever. l did not yet
give UP, but prayed twenty-five years,
each day mentioning his name at the
throne of grace, and then came a let
ter saying, I have found the Savior
Then" said Mr.. Muller, Il checked out
this petition as answered. In this
same book l have other names that
/ have prayed for for five, ten and
fifteen years, and scores of names
against which there is a cross, show
ing that the requests have been
granted"
Here, then, was man who made q
business of prayer and who kept his
account with the Lord in a business.
like way. When he had matter to
present to Gods attention he first
found promise on which to base his
appeal, always making sure, If pos
sible, that it was according to God s
will Then he recorded his petition
in book and watched and waited for
the answer. Is it any wonder that this
mans faith grew rapidly, and that
he became the most notable and pos
sibly the most successful prayer Of
modern times?
We see by this illustration why
many prayers fail; they are rambling
appeals. SO vague and indefinite that
even the petitioner can hardly remem-
Der what he prayed for when he rises
from his knees. Not expecting any an
swer, no record is made of them, and
no surprise is felt If the answer does
not come. And SO the solemn farce
goes on year after year.
1t is said that in battle it takes
hundred pounds of lead to kill O.
man, because 80 pounds and Is ounces
OF it is wasted in wild firing which
aims at nothing and hits no one. On
the other hand, the sharpshooter
wastes no ammunition. but picks his
Il. o,
If we would pray for fewer objects,
more carefully selected. and then make
record of our prayers and wtach for
the answer, we would not waste so
much breath, and we would obtain
more results.
Delay in answering prayer often
proves great blessing to US. In some
cases it tests the strength of our
desire, and shows us that we did not
care very much about the objects at
all, just as request for an education
which is soon dropped shows the par
ent that the boy was not sufficiently
in earnest to appreciate the privilege
II he had it. In other cases delay
leads us to examine our motives, and
we find that they are purely or par
tally selfish, and withdraw the request
of our own accord. Possibly the delay
opens our eyes to some secret sin.
and leads us to abandon it, for IF
regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me-"
Man is creature OF growth, and it
takes time and change and children,
and oftentimes losses and bereave-
ments ami old age. to soften his heart
and show him his need of a Savior.
Consider how many influences
wrought upon you before you yielded:
how many appeals were made. how
many times the still, small voice wills
pered before you answered Yes"
Consider all this-you will not won.
der that it takes time for God to an
swer prayer which involves the change
OF hum.n will from disobcdience 10
/ obedience
Lord, leach US how to pray.