Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1923-05-04
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Topic for May 6: Lessons from the
Psalms. 5. A Prayer Psalm. Ps.
S6:1-17. (COnsecratiOn Meet
ing.)
PRAYER

PRAYER
= There isn't anything so important il
one daily life as prayer. He who ne
elects prayer in his daily life does 81
at a greater loss than he can possibl,
, appreciate. 1t is the greatest means O
: grace that we have by which we ma!
enter into converse with God and de
rive those indispensable blessings
from the throne of grace that are nee
= essary for our best welfare and tina
can come from no other source. Pray
er is great privilege as well as
source Of power. 1t perhaps would bC
considered a great honor to talk tt
some earthly exalted monarch or Do.
tentate; but should it not be consid.
cred far greater privilege to be able
to talk and walk with God through his
Son, Jesus Crist, Who is the Lord Of
lords and the King Of kings?
Our love for Him will determine
how much we purpose to make use of
prayer. If we love Him we shall be
devoted to Him, and will naturally
spend much time devotionally in COM
muning with Him.
We are often in religious hurry in
our devotions. I wonder how much
time the average person spends in de-
Votion to Christ Jesus? Can the time
be easily reckoned in minutes? Surely
not hours. Probably many of us would
be discomposed by an arithmetical es-
innate of the time we spend in pray
er. It might reveal to us the secret of
much of our apathy in prayer, be-
cause it might disclose how little we
desire to be alone with God. We find
much time for devotion to other
things. I have seen connoisseurs OF
art sit for hours before some master
piece of art admiring its matchless
forms and studying the ideals that
genius had expressed or depicted upon
canvas. But is genius as it reveals IT.
self in art, or any other thing to de-
mand more time and appreciation and
endowment than the all-inspiring
thoughts of God, of heaven, and OF
eternity. which the soul needs to con-
ceive wildly in order to know the
blessedness of prayer and the secret
of the higher and conquering life? NO
one ever knew an eminently holy man
who did not spend much Of his time
in communion with God. Whitef1eld
said: "Whole days have spent pros
trate on the ground in silent or vocal
prayer.' Fall upon your knees and
grow there" is the language of an
other. Christ Jesus is also our exam
pie who found time to spend whole
nights in prayer before God.
Now, any number Of helpful things
might be said about prayer; but for
lack of space I don't know of anything
better than to close this article by
giving certain scriptual references to
prayer with caption Of each:
ASK
Luke 11:9 TASK, and it shall be
given you"
FAITH IN PRAYER
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto
you what things soever ye desire
when ye pray, believe that We receive
them and We shall have them"
GOD HEARS PRAYER IF WE ASK
Alright
1 John 5:14 "And this is the conf
dence that we have in him, that, if we
ask anything according to his will, he
heareth us
WE MAY EXPECT OUR PRAYERS
TO BE ANSWERED IF WE DO
HIS WILL
1 John 1922 "And whatsoever we
ask, we receive of him, because we
keep his commandments, and do those
things that are pleasing in his sight"
GOD READS OUR THOUGHTS BE-
FORE WE PRAY
lisa. 1924 "And it shall come to pass,
that before they call, will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, will
hear"
HABITUAL PRAYER
1 Thess. SLY "Pray without ceas-
ing" Also read Luke 1871.
PRAYER MAKES ONE STRONGER
lisa. 40:31 'But they that wait upon
he Lord shall renew their strength"
IN ALL THINGS PRAY WITH
THANKSGIVING
Phil. AS "Be careful for nothing;
)ut in everything by prayer and sup
)lication with thanksgiving let your
be made known unto Cod"
ANSWER DEPENDS {
UPON A RIGHT Spirit IO-
WARD OTHERS I
Mark 1925 "And when ye stand
Nraying, forgive, if ye have ought
lgainst any: that your Father also
which is in heaven may forgive you
your trespasses."
)NE MUST HAVE A CLEAN HEART
AND PURE INTENTIONS
Ps. 66:18 eff I regard iniquity in my
leart, the Lord will not hear me-"
PRAYER MUST BE UNSELFTSH
James 4:3 eye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss, that ye may !
consume it upon your lusts."
PRAYER MUST BE GUIDED BY
GODS WORD
John 1857 eff ye abide in me, and
ny words abide in you, ye shall ask
THAT ye will and it will be done unto Q
'ou."
WE MUST PRAY IN CHRIST'S
NAME