The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-05-11

Hoe OHJ PioSSd,
but he waited patiently for the answer
Many people miss the answer because
they cannot wait Gods time, forgetting
that he has other people to attend TO
besides them, and that he has him
ORANGES in his work as we'll as they.
On one occasion Daniel prayed three
full weeks before there was any token
that God had even heard him. Then
came a messenger from God who told
him that from the first day hat he
began to pray, God had heard him, but
that the "Prince of the kingdom of
Persia (that is the one who had charge
of Satan's forces in Persia), had with
stood him n and twenty days." but
finally he had broken through his
ranks, and was there to answer Dan
iel's prayer. Remember that patient
waiting is just as important as pray
ing.
David's patient waiting was well re-
warded, for God did four things for
him: (a) He brought him up out of
a horrible pit, that Is out of a con-
dition of despair and doubt; (b) he
set his feet upon the solid rock of as
surance; (c) he set him going in the
way Of Christian service; I'D he put
a song of praise into his mouth-all
sure signs of a %regenerate heart, and
every such life is a mighty testimony
to Gods redeeming power.
More than sixty years ago George
Muller Of Bristol Orphanage, England,
began to pray for a group of five
friends. After five years one of them
came to Christ. Five years later two
more were converted. He prayed on
for twenty-five years and the fourth
man was saved. For the fifth he prayed
until death, often expressing full con-
tidence that he too would be brought
to Christ eventually, "because," as he
said, my life so far as l know is
right in Gods sight 1 am praying for
something which is according to Gods
word, and 1 believe according to Gods
will, and 1 am praying in faith, be-
lieving that God will fulfill his prom
ises.
2. Reflection. Verses As. From his
WI experience, David reasons that
any la who puts his trust in God
will be similarly blessed, and then his
thoughts reach out to the wonderful
works which God has done for his chill
dren, and his more wonderful thoughts,
which have not yet been put into ac-
ton.
8. Conservation. Verses 10. An
hours honest reflection on what God
has done for us, is pretty sure to lead
to a whole-hearted surrender to him.
God desires so much as ourselves. The
best return we can make to him is that
which David made: Lord here am L.
1 delight to do thy will, o my God"
a. Expression. Verses go. Any
one who thinks he has a good thing,
naturally likes to talk about it, and a
genuine Christian experience is sure
to find expression in testimony. David
did not hide Gods goodness and right
in his OWL heart, but boldly
and persistently proclaimed it to 9TH
ers. LET the redeemed of the Lord
say So"
5. Petition. Verses ILL. Because
David had given himself wholly to
God, he felt free to call upon God to
help him, not in the sense that he had
earned a reward, but with the conf
dence of a surrendered life, which has
no hesitation in asking God for any
thing it needs, because it knows that
it would gladly render unto him any
service or sacrifice that he might de-
sire.
David Is evidently in sore trouble,
for he says, "Innumerable evils have
compassed me about" If it be said
that this does not harmonic with the
early part of the psalm, which is SO
hopeful and tubilant, let 1t be remem
bered that changes in life come often
very suddenly, and most of us live I'M
der april skies, and not unclouded
blue" No one is so fully delivered
from trials and testings as to be for
ever exempt.
Furthermore it is not so much out
ward trials that trouble David as the
consciousness of his own shortcomings.
Mine iniquities have taken hold upon
me so that l am not able to look up"
A believer may be wholly delivered
from the guilt of sin, and largely from
the power of sin, but there can be no
deliverance from the presence of sin
until Jesus comes to set us free. Hence
we should expect trials until that time,
but we should also expect deiiverance.
'In the world We shall have tribula
ton, but be of good cheer. have over
come the world"