Meditations

CONCERNING PRAYER. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1.6. We are so dependent on God that not only should we do everything for Him, but we are unable to do anything except by Him and for Him. Therefore, we ought to be asking God to give us the means to please Him. And this happy necessity to run to Him for all our needs, far from being a source of bother to us, ought to be the source of our complete consolation. What a blessing it is to speak to Him in trust, to open our hearts to Him, and by means of prayer to be united with Him as much as it is possible to be in this life. As St. Cyprian said, let us consider whether He will grant us the good things He invites us to ask Him for. So let us pray faithfully, never losing the fruit of our prayers by wavering or hesitating in our faith. As St. James says, Happy is the soul that gains comfort in prayer through the presence of its beloved. But how unhappy we are when all we feel is weariness at the heavenly pursuit we call prayer. The lukewarmness of our prayers is the source of all our other unfaithfulnesses. So let us remember the words of St. James, If anyone among us is in trouble, he should pray to obtain comfort.