Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-14

~ Ely So-ss
Prayer is a universal element OF re-
ligion. for all men pray. Other faiths
may have their rules. regulations and
rituals that prescribe the principles
of prayer. but Christians are guided
in their communion with God by the
precepts of Christ Jesus and His
practice of prayer. Luke. the beloved
physician. in his biography OF the
Master gives a prominent place to
| His prayer life. The scientific man
recognized that the pre-eminence OF
Jesus among men was due in no small
oegree to His marvellous works and
that His miracles were the answers
to prayer-the outflow and conse-
Quence Of the uniting OF the soul or
Jesus with the ultimate divine power
which produced the world OF nature.
No follower OF the Chriet can study
His life without desiring to learn
from Him how to pray"
Both in His sermon on the mount
and in answer to the request OF His
followers one can find the model
prayer. II was given in more than
one form, showing that Jesus did NOT
teach or require that men should al
ways use the same phrases and words
in their devotions. In this mode
there are many close points OF con-
tact with the prayers used in the
Jewish synagogue worship. In ract.
| FIVE of the eighteen prayers used bN
them are found in Matthew'S version
Of the model prayer. which for orev-
| ity, simplicity. directness. compre-
hension and spirituality has never
| been surpa ssed in the ritual of any re-
| ligion. While the similarities can be
! found in rabbinical sources. there rs
no evidence to show that Jesus com
Al o N o
existing form.
The suggestive pattern contains two
| main divisions. each with equal sub
| divisions. The first division presents
God in His relationship as Father
and King. Probably the most dis
| tinctive expression in this disciples
! prayer is found in Its opening az
! dress to Our Father who art IN
heaven" The first two words sue.
gest the universal brotherhood OF
| man and the Fatherhood OF GOD IN
| these two words are contained the
| declaration of faith. which Is the
basis of prayer, and the right way
| Of approach to God. because 1t re
veals His attitude toward HIS people
| and their true relation 10 HIM. In
next four words tell of the existence
| of heaven and its occupancy by the
Heavenly Father. The ideal nome
would be incomplete without chill
| dren. God has provided and Chris,
has gone to prepare a place IN .u
| heavenly home for all who loveth'
because they are born of God.
| The other glorious conception OF
| God is that He is a King. AS such
/ He much have the honor respect, con
! fdence and esteem of His people. Hls
name. which stands for His per
| sonality. must be adored and hal
lowed This means more than omit
| ting His name from oaths ana curses.
| for it demands of US to contlnua,.s
| give God the first place in our
| thoughts. life. speech and service; 20
| that we bring no disgrace on Goo
as our Father and King. When men
pray for the establishment OF tne
reign of God they commit themselves
| to the task of seeking to bring ~
lives to doing Gods will and through
1 personal and cooperative ehort SEEK
| to win the world for the possession
of the King of Kings. Gods VII,
must become a part of the laws, ana
| those laws implicitly obeyed in HIS
foreign dependencies as much as at
! the seat of His government. IN
/ world will become like heaven when
/ every knee is bowed and every tongue
| confesses the Lord and all seek 70
practice the principles OF love toward
God and all mankind.
In the portion of the prayer which
reverses the usual order by placing
personal petitions last one mas .
| threefold div ision concerning man :
| life, that considers his present, PAST
and future. The petition which pre-
sents mans present needs in asking
that He give US this day our daily
| bread" Is a comprehensive petition
| that calls for the supplying OF the
| needs Of the body, mind and spirit.
| It, is an expression Of confidence IN
| Gods power to supply daily as the
need arises for our spiritual. mentai
/ and physical life.
! The next petition takes UP the rec
ord for the past which to so many
| is the skeleton in their closet. that
haunts them at it's remembrance, MI
| ing their souls with remorse and re-
erets at its recollection. Underneath
the request for forgiveness is the plea
for the renewal of fellowship WIKI
God that has been broken by some
personal sin. In introducing the for-
giveness of others, as basis for the
restoration Of the privileges or som
ship, Jesus brought in a new element
| in prayer, that He frequently emphs-
sized in His teachings. The neart
! that is not prepared to forgive others
is not fit to receive forgiveness. One
cannot enjoy Gods grace Of forgive,
ness unless they can exercise toward
those who have wronged them for-
giving spirit. The man Who prays Tor
his enemies will have the spirit OF
love that will enable him to forgive
! as he prays God to forgive him.
The final petition recognises mans
weakness as he faces the dangers of
life. The very suggestion of evil calls
for one personally to adjust his daily
life so that all of its points of contact
will be free from anything that will
hinder the free and full development
of their spiritual life. The request for
His leadership practically means that
the lesson of seeking to have ones
own way has been learned and that
henceforth He shall be our Guide. and
that we will only go as He leads the
way home toward heaven and duty.
In the conclusion there is encour-
aeement and grounds for presenting
the petitions, confirming mans faith
in making kknown his requests. For
Thine is the kingdom" is evidence
that God has power to give, as ask
ed. the needs of daily life. Prayers
are never unanswered. Requests may
be denied or delayed when that is the
best answer to ones prayer. 1t may
be better for Gods glory that He give
us strength to master our tempta-
lions, endure our trials and conquer
our fears He will give daily as we
need and as He knows is best for
us. He has power to blot out the
sins of the past so that one who has
turned in faith to Him in the name
Of the Lord, repentent for the sins of
the past. need to be depressed by his
regrettable past. The fact that His