The Nevada County picayune., 1919-10-02


 and take treatment Beloved. the crying need of the church and Chris tian today is for the great Spiritual Physician
 Why? Because the spirit of prayer has waned. The unConfessed state of Christians everywhere is, Tt is diff tcult 10 pray" The war, instead of bringing the world to its knees has hardened millions and driven them away from the altar
 True prayer is based on:
 l. \ Deep Craving-A natural de- sire. The normal body craves to eat and eats; normal soul desires to pray and prays My soul longeth. yea even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God" CPS. S4:2)
 Augustine says: Give me Thine fGod's) own self, without whom, Thou shouldst give me all that ever thou hadst more, yet cou,i Tot my desires be satisfied '" George Matheson prays: Whether Thou comest in sunshine or rain. I would take Thee into my heart joy fully Thou art Thyself more than the sunshine; thou art Thyself com tensalion for the rain. It is Thee and not Thy gifts l crave"
 Is this your deep soul craving for God? Is it mine? Do you hunge~? Blessed are they that hunger an1 thirst after righteousness; for they shall be fiHed." (Matt. 5:6) And thirst? AS the heart panteth after inc water brooks. so panteth my souI after Thee, o God My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall l come and appear before God a" tPs 42:1-2D
 ?. 4 Conscious Need-The beai- thy growing child wakes in the nieLt. Mother, I am hungry-I want a drink The child did not have to create his appetite-it was there. r was nataral-he was conscious of +. and mother set herself 10 satisfy Tho need. God in Christ is the satisflo. ton of soul need. fJohn 6:25. 4S:541
 Beloved. true prayer is based o, conscious need. Where there is m need there is no prayer, and where there Is no prayer there is no blee.. 'ng. Herein lies the religious traged., Of the hour-unoffered prayers. And m that day ye shall ask me no uucs. ton. Verify, verify. say unto vol If ye shali ask anything of the Fat,. CT. He will give it to you in My name Hitherto have ve asked nothing in my name; ask. and ye shall receive that your joy may be made full - John l6:2S-24)
 When John Knox was crushed hy 'he fearful condition of Scotlant under the tyrant Queen, Mary, he is said to have cried out to God. Give me Scotland or die"
 St. Anthony says: How can we sec the lost, even oar own children. rushing headlong to ruin, while we glide peacefully into glory. without d cry 10 God for their deliverance, Either our faith is mockery. or our profession is lie!
 God has promised the gift of His Spirit for power in service. "If ve then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Fa- ther give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." tLuke 11:13). Yet. we 20 on depending on man-made strength and organizations without Him. refusing to pray and receive.
 When our people are crushed be. meath the load of the lost, we will see hundreds brought to Christ where We now number them by ones and twos.
 If my people. who are called hy my name. shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face. and turn from their wicked ways. then will I. hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"