The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-11-07

4 tous lest we shirk
Il any proper care"
n and IN this con-
~ Y nection we would
EYAHA ~fA call attention to
the fact that in the epistle from which
our text is taken Paul commends Tim
othy as one who will "care" for the
Philippians e 200.
On the other hand there are Chris
tians who care too much, or at least.
in q wrong way. They carry useless
burdens, in situations where all their
worry will not help matters in the
east. To these the apostle speaks in
the text, the import Of which Is brought
out better in the rendering of the Re
vised Version: IN nothing be anxious"
Let 1t be noted that we have here a
command from the Lord. Do we take
II seriously2 Are we not inclined TO
regard IL as an improbable injunctionf
Truly il would be If we were left to
U own wisdom and strength in the
premises. But our interest is quick
ened when we observe that God fol-
'0C Aat SO1llldIu Will q RiISNAAP
ton which will enable US TO keep 1t.
The essence of this prescription Is
found in the words: Let your re
quests be made known unto God"
We are to substitute prayer for fret
ting and worry and in doing so we
shall find relief. Some may declare at
once that they have tried This but 1t
has not worked. This leads us to
look the mor carefully at this pre-
scription, all the Ingredients OF which
must be present II the remedy Is 10
be successful.
First Of all, we are hidden sin ev-
%erything" TO make our requests known
unto God. This covers both material
and spiritual needs. The writer was
ono Informed by 4 man who pro-
fessed TO have reached an exalted
plane in spiritual things, that he no
longer prayed for I other than spIr-
itual blessings. The attention of this
man was called to the fact that Jesus
taught His disciples TO pray for
bread as well as for the forgiveness
of sins. and that Paul teaches ms TO
make known our requests TO God IN
ARing."
Also, everything overs small mat
tiers as well as great. Do we not fall
at this point and carry burdens which
should be cast upon God9 The late
Henry Clay T%rumbull. for many years
editor of the Sunday School Times,
understood better than most Christians
the inclusiveness of that everything"
He tells of an occasion when it was
necessary for him 10 mail a manu-
script that he had prepared for a Sun
day School publication before leaving
Boston TO keep an important engage
ment. An emergency arose which de-
layed him so that he barely had time
to catch his train. Then he discov-
cred he had mislaid his manuscript.
which must be mailed before he could
leave the city. What should he do?
Sor.e of US would have fretted our
selves into a fever. but this man Of
God kneeled and earnestly called upon
the Lord for help. Immediately there
came to him a mental impression as II
a voice had said "Stani IN. and
throw off your coa and vest" He did
so and found he had placed the pre-
elous manuscript in the inside pocket
of his vest. instead of the inside pocket
of his coat. He AYERS that up to that
time he had never known Of such a
nocket in a vest. although he after
wards found they were common.
We are to make U requests known
TO God 'by prayer and ~supplieation."
PRAYER is the larger and more genera;
term. including all reverent. worship
full approach 10 God. Supplication re-
fers 10 u definite petitions. Together
they describe the full and free and de-
tailed presentation Of our requests be
fore God. Objection nay be made that
God already knows our needs. Trne.
vet we find relief from our anxieties
By telling them out TO Him. Our hu-
man relationships are analogous. II
has been well said that "the mother
loves 70 have the sobbing child tell
all the trouble 70 her. She under
stands and the child IS sure Of SYM
pathv and help. The difficulties viii
all he smonthed ont in mothers arms"
So also with our Father IN heaven.
We may have tried the prescription
inns far without marked success. but
possiblv we have overlooked an i'm
nortant ingredient. We are to make
our reouest known with t~hankssiv-
ing" This is often omitted, and the
omission Is serious. for II we we're 70
cultivate in ourselves the shirt OF
tbankfulness our anxieties would often
melt away under its warm Sunshine.
Even in our deepest trials there Is
for thanksgiving.
The command and prescription Of
our text are followed by a sure prom
Use: And the peace Of God. which
passeth all understanding. shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus"
Vast Difference.