03.05. The Touchstone of PRAYER
05. The Touchstone of PRAYER
What is Prayer? Is it the language of our lips? Is it the utterance of certain words upon our knees? It is this — but much more than this. For there are many who repeat words of Prayer — and yet never pray. There are many who go to church — but never draw near to God; who kneel before Him in their closets — but their hearts are far from Him. Their lips, it may be, have daily uttered a set of words — but their hearts have spoken nothing. Therefore their prayers, if such they may be called, have never entered into the ears of the Lord. If you know anything of the life of God in your soul — then you know that this is not prayer.
It was once just so with you — but God has taught you differently. There was a time, when a form of sound words, and a somewhat serious mind, was all you thought necessary. More than this you had heard of — but you never knew what it meant. At length came the light of God’s Holy Spirit into your soul — and then came with it new and changed views of prayer.
Then you said within yourself, ’Hitherto, alas, I have never prayed at all! I have never understood what prayer meant. I used to think it was the bending of the knee, and the utterance of the lip — words well chosen and solemnly pronounced. But now I see my mistake. Prayer is the utterance of the heart — the speaking of the soul to God. It is a deep feeling within us of our needs, and poverty, and helplessness. It is a drawing near to God, and seeking to have our empty souls filled with His fullness.
Every person, I suppose, into whose hands this book may chance to fall, says some sort of prayer during each day. Probably every one kneels down, and offers up a prayer to God when he rises in the morning — and also when goes to bed at night. And yet, if I mistake not, you need a few kind words of advice on this subject.
Bear in mind that all God’s people pray. They may be different from one another in many respects; but they all agree in this — they are a praying people. This was the description given of Saul of Tarsus, when God’s grace had changed his heart, ’Behold, he is praying.’ Once he was a Jew, and gloried in his opposition to Christ and His followers. But the Lord turned him from darkness unto light — and he became an altered man, and a man of prayer. But do you think had he never prayed before? Yes, he had repeated many a prayer. He had often knelt down in his own house, and in the temple, and holy words had passed through his lips. Like many other Jews, he had his regular times for prayer; and most likely he was very punctual in observing them. And yet all that time he perhaps never knew what real prayer was — he never prayed to God. And how about ourselves? This morning, for instance, when you knelt down by your bedside — did you pray? Or last Sunday, when prayer was offered in church — did you join in it heartily, earnestly, and truly; or did you sit, as if you had nothing to do with the prayers which were going up to Heaven; thinking perhaps of a thousand things, when you should have been thinking of God, and of your soul? But I will now give you a little affectionate advice about your Prayers.
FIRST, it will be well before you approach God in prayer, to stop a moment, and say to yourself, ’Now I am going to kneel down, and make my petition to the Most High God. Do I believe that He actually hears me — and that He is able and willing to grant my requests? Am I going to ask according to His will — or have I some selfish object in view? Am I really in earnest, and is my whole heart in the matter? Am I willing patiently and submissively to wait God’s own time, and God’s own way, for giving me, or denying me, what I am longing for?
Such thoughts as these will prepare our minds for the work of prayer, and lead us to a better and holier way of drawing near to God’s throne.
SECONDLY, when you are in God’s presence, endeavor to put away all worldly thoughts. Try not to think about worldly things when you are upon your knees — but fix your thoughts on God. Endeavor to realize His presence. You are speaking to an unseen God — but to One who sees you, and can hear you; to One who knows all your wants, and is able to give you all you need. And whatever you most need, whether it is pardon for your sins, or grace to help you in serving Him, or guidance in all your difficulties — tell it out to God, and He will relieve you.
THIRDLY, remember when you pray, that you are speaking to a heavenly Friend, to your Father. It will help you greatly to feel that you are not addressing a stranger or one at a great distance from you, but One very near you — your Father! Try it — and may God look upon you as His dear child, and give you a Father’s blessing!
FOURTHLY, pray often. Besides the regular times of morning and evening, we should get into the habit of speaking to God at other times also. Often during the day lift up your heart to God, and tell Him of your needs — and especially in any time of trouble or difficulty.
Suppose you were walking along a difficult road, and there was someone with you who knew the way very well, and had much more strength than yourself — would you not be constantly speaking to this friend? And when you were a little doubtful about the next step — would you not ask him to guide you? Or, if you grew tired — would you not gladly take his hand, and trust to his support? Do so with God. He is ever by your side. Ask Him to help you, to guard you, and to strengthen you. Do not attempt to walk alone — but lean on this Almighty Friend.
FIFTHLY, as to the words you should use. You are perhaps ready to ask: Is it best to pray in my own words, or to use a prayer which I have learned? It does not, I think, matter which — just so that we pray with our whole hearts. What I would recommend is sometimes to use a Form of Prayer; and then at other times to address God in your own words — and though they may be poor and simple words, He will accept them.
There is one more important direction which I must give you. When you pray, always offer up your petitions in the Saviors name. Yes, you will say, I always do so. I always end my prayers with some such words as these, ’For the sake of Jesus Christ,’ ’through the merits and mediation of Christ our Lord.’ Is this a mere form? No — it is because we dare not come to God in our own name, for we are unworthy to do so — and therefore we come in the Savior’s name. And does He not encourage us by saying, ’Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.’
There is still one more direction which I ought to give you. There is something of great importance which should accompany our supplications; and that is, Thanksgiving. ’In all things (says the Apostle) by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.’ ’Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks — for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ He requires of us a thankful acknowledgment of what we have received, before He gives fresh mercies. It is the grateful heart which He loves to bless. But do you not often find yourself far readier to plead with God for the removal of any trial — than to praise God when that trial is removed? In a storm at sea the most careless are brought on their knees — but when the tempest is over, from how few is the voice of praise heard! And yet thanksgiving is the Christian’s sweetest occupation — it savors most of Heaven.
There are two INQUIRIES which it may be well to answer. One is this: Is it right for a Christian to bring his little personal needs before God — matters which concern his everyday life? And further, is it permitted to bring those matters which are of a purely temporal nature before God?
Yes, I think we may; for by so doing we give a religious aspect to all our concerns, temporal as well as spiritual; those which are connected with this world — as well as those which have a direct bearing upon eternity. For if we look into the Word of God we find no limitation whatever. ’In everything let your requests be made known unto God.’ In such cases we should be careful to ask God to give, provided it be according to His will. The other question connected with this subject is, How does God usually grant our petitions? Does He so palpably, and unmistakably, and immediately answer our requests — that we see at once that our prayer is heard? If we ask for guidance — does He forthwith clearly open our way? Or if we ask for strength — do we instantly feel a fresh power within us?
No, it is only when we get into the habit of constantly committing ourselves to God — when it becomes our practice to throw ourselves on Him in good earnest — then our worrying cares leave us one by one; and God meets us with a constant outpour of blessing. It is when a person thus lives a life of prayer, constantly committing himself and his concerns to the Lord — that those words of John are fulfilled: ’This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us — and if we know that he hears us whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we desired of him.’ My dear reader, may God pour out upon you the spirit of Prayer — and may He show you the sweetness and comfort of Prayer!