The Sweet Hour of Prayer

The Sweet Hour of Prayer THE SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER.
By A. B. BARRETT.
(Romans 8:26-27) The word prayer comes from a word that means peti­tion, but its use in the Bible carries with it the idea of thanksgiving. Too many prayers are all petitions, hence it is refreshing to hear a prayer that is largely made up of thanksgiving and praise. Of course we are to make our requests known unto God, but we are also to give thanks in everything.

There are many phases of the subject of prayer that one might discuss; such as our posture—whether we should stand, sit or kneel; and the length—whether one's prayer should be long or short; also as to who may pray. However, I shall pass these questions with only a few words of notice. I am sure either sitting, standing or kneeling is acceptable when the circumstances demand a given posture in prayer, and the model prayers of the Bible are sometimes long and sometimes short, but more often short. It is usually wiser not to pray a prayer that is too long, for those who may be kneeling will become cramped and the prayer will do them no good. I can recall a number of instances when some good brother had prayed a longer prayer, and I was aching all over and unable to follow him in his praying, and he would finally say, "As we are not heard for our much speaking we will hush," and then refuse to do so, but just keep right on praying as if he thought he would give the Lord enough to keep him busy for six months. This always seems to me to be a serious mistake. The Bible teaches us ex­tensively on prayer by precept and example, and a careful study of the subject will show any honest person that only those who are obedient to God may pray an ac­ceptable prayer to him. The altar of incense in the tabernacle was a type of prayer, and its position, imme­diately before the veil entering into the presence of God in the Holy of holies, shows prayer is the nearest possible approach unto the throne of grace, while we are separated from God by the veil, our flesh; and as only priests offi­ciated at this altar I conclude that only priests, Christians, are now commanded to pray. Indeed, God said if the lews used the incense for any other purpose or gave it to a stranger in their camp he would require it of them. But after we have read all the Bible says on prayer we shall still be compelled to say we do not know how to pray. This is what Paul teaches in Romans 8:26-27, which I read in your presence. "In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them. But the Spirit himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words, and the searcher of hearts knows what the Spirit's meaning is, because his intercessions for God's people are in harmony with God's will." . (Modern Speech N. T.) Paul included himself in that plural pronoun "we," when he said: "We do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them", and if he did not know, though he was a finished linguist and had the ability to express himself as few men have been able to do, I am sure you and I need not despair if we find that we too are unable to pray as we should. As we restudy this subject in the light of the New Testament we discover a number of important elements that must enter into every scriptural prayer, which are, (1) Pray in faith. (Matthew 21:22; James 1:5-8.) (2) In Christ's name. (John 1-1:13, 14:15, 16; 16:24.) (3) Keeping the commandments and doing the things that are pleasing in his sight. (John 15:7-9; 1 John 3:22). (4) With an unselfish heart. (James 4:1-3.) (5) In a forgiving spirit (Matthew 18:21-35), and (6) ,According to the will of God. ( 1 John 5:14.) I say these are necessary elements that must be in every scriptural prayer, and because the sinner lacks them I am unable to see how he could possibly pray acceptably. But after we have learned all of this about prayer we must still say: "For we do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them".

Now we are commanded to pray and "We do not know what prayers to pray nor how to pray them." What then shall we do? Shall we just give up in despair, and never pray again? Ah, no! Someone has well said: "Man's extremity is God's opportunity". He expects us to do all we can for ourselves, and, when we have done it all and seem to have failed, he steps in and does for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. This is true regarding prayer. He wants us to study the subject and pray to him the best we can, knowing that we are unable to pray as we ought. God has given 11s two inter­cessors who will help us when we, through the infirmities of the flesh, are unable to pray for ourselves as we should. In our text Paul says: "In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them. But the Spirit himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words, and the Searcher of hearts knows what the Spirit's meaning is, because his intercessions for God's people are in harmony with God's will." To me it is one grand thought that when I fail in my efforts to pray acceptably to God, and I do fail so often, the Spirit comes to my rescue by taking my feeble petition and presenting it before the throne of grace according to the will of God. And our other Intercessor, Jesus Christ, stands before the throne to join in pleading our cause. Paul. says: "He is also at the right hand of God, and is interceding for us" (Romans 8:34.) In Hebrews 7:25 it is said: "Hence, too, he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, seeing that he ever lives to plead for them". And John says: "If any one sins, we have an Advocate with the -Father—Jesus Christ the righteous". He is also our lawyer, who joins in with the Spirit to plead our interests in the heavenly court. We do not always pray according to the will of God, but we may rest assured that when our prayers are presented by the Spirit and Christ they are according to the will of God. I might illustrate it in this way: Suppose you have received a telegram that a relative of yours has recently died in Scotland, leaving a vast fortune to which you are one of twenty heirs. You immediately begin such operations as you know to claim your share of the estate, but you do all you know how to do and there is yet something that must be clone before you can inherit your part of the fortune. Of course, you will not give up in despair but you will engage the services of some skilled lawyers who will plead your cause according to the laws of Scotland and win the case for you. You could call off all proceedings in your behalf and refuse to inherit if you so desired and no one could or would force you to claim the money. And so it is in this matter or our spiritual interest. After we have done all we can, and must confess that we are unprofitable servants, we then have the privilege of engaging the services of our two intercessors, the Holy Spirit and Christ, who will take up our cause and plead it before the supreme court of the universe and gain for us our eternal inheritance. We can refuse to do this and call off all efforts in our behalf and refuse to inherit if we so desire, but no well balanced disciple would think of such a thing. When we con­template what God in his mercy has so abundantly pro­vided for us we are filled with appreciation for his love and our hearts well up to him with profound gratitude for his abundant mercy.

Then let us be assured that when we are weakest, through the infirmities of the flesh, he proposes to help us if we will come to him in faith and rely upon the mediatorial services of Christ in our behalf, remembering always that both Christ and the Spirit will intercede for us. This is what Christianity, in its ultimate analysis, means to me, and it may mean as much to you if you get down into the golden heart of the Christ in this way. Browning has a sweet little poem that has helped me much, and I pass it on to you that you may gain strength therefrom:

"Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer:
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father's throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known
Though years have passed since then, do not despair: T
The Lord will answer you, some time, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not wholly done. The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what he has begun;
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall share, some time, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Faith can not be unanswered.
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock,
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted.
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cried: It shall be done, some time, somewhere.