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action by sheer importunity. That which sometimes passes for great piety may prove to
be sheer unbelief. We remember sometime ago that our little one had prayed in her
childish fashion that on some particular day, weeks ahead, the weather might prove fine.
Nothing more being mentioned, the mother reminded her saying, "You have not asked
God any more about the fine day you want". "Oh no, mother", was the response, "I told
Him once, and He won't forget".
Prayer does not mean arguing with God, or trying to get our own way. Prayer gives us
access to God, fellowship with Himself. Gives us insight into His purposes, sends us out
again into the turmoil of life with less anxiety, with greater patience, with more
sympathy.
"With a heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathise."
Prayers are answered because God wishes His children to share His secrets, trust
Himself, but prayers never alter God's plans. Prayer comes to God with his own Word
and says, "Do as Thou hast said". Prayer is never answered that is not in accordance
with the will of God. There are some things that God Himself has placed at our disposal
upon the condition that we "ask", "seek", and "knock", but there is no more mystery
about this than when the child asks its parent for bread, or knocks at the door for
entrance.
Watching with all perseverance.
The Lord did not simply say, "Pray . . . . . lead us not into temptation". He also said,
"Watch and pray that ye enter into temptation". Is it right to pray the one prayer, and
forget to watch? Will prayer alone avail us, if the Lord has said watch and pray? "What
I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13: 37). The word "watch" in Eph. 6: 18
means "sleeplessness". In II Cor. 6: 5 and 11: 27 we have the word in a setting of
tumult, prison, weariness, cold and nakedness. It is of the Spirit of the Lord Himself.
"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psa. 121: 4).
Luke 21: 34-36 urges watchfulness by such words as "unawares", "snares", "escape".
What should we pray for? In one sense we must all confess with Rom. 8: 26, "we
know not what we should pray for as we ought", but that is not exactly our meaning in
the question. There are some children of God whose integrity is beyond question, who
feel that prayer must be confined to spiritual things only, and that such things as problems
of daily business, home, etc. are not proper subjects for prayer. What then should we
pray for? Surely the apostle has answered in Phil. 4: 6:--
"Be over-anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN unto God."
Anxiety for nothing, prayer in everything seem to allow no neutral ground. When
once we are saved, may we not believe that all our affairs are a part of the Lord's concern,
that somehow or other where we live, where we work, the friends we have or lose, all the