THE QUIET HOUR

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 40, 22 June 1929, Page 7

THE QUIET HOUR

SUNDAY READING. PRAYER. (By Ensign Robfc. Prowse S.A.) Lord Teach Us to Pray—Lukes 11-1. 'Hie disciples had been with Christ, and. seen Him pray. They had learned I to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer, and so they camel to Him with the request, "Lord teach us to pray". As we grow in Christian! lifei, the thought and faith of the Master, iiv His never-failing intercession becomes even more precious, and the hope of being like Christ in His intercession, gain's an attractiveness before unknowiA. As we see Him, pray, and remember there is none who can pray like Him, and none who can teach like Him, we feel the petition of the disciples, "Lord teach us to pray," is just what we need, ar.fi so wo. draw nigh with confidence, knowing that He will be delighted to take ns into fellowship with Himself, and teach us. t O , pray even as Hd prayed. Shall we not <rn to the blessed Master, and ask Him to place our names on the roll at thej school of prayer. The Master is only too willing to help those who long to continue their studies in the Devine art of prayer and) intercession. Many of us can repeat a prayer, but how many really pray?' Though in its beginning prayer is s 0! simple, that the feeblest child can pray, yet it is at the same time, the highest and Holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the unseen and Most Holy One. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessing's, the secret of power and! life. l't is on prayer tliat t' l( s promises wait for their fullfilment, the Kingdom for its coming and the Glory of God for its full revalation. Praying to God i s a wor.Vlerful privilege, not for a few but feu- every sincere soul.

Jesus lias opened a school in which Ha trains His redeemed ones, who especially desire it, to have power in prayer. Shall we now say: "Lord teach lis to pray." AVe have read in the Word of God, with what power • the prophets of old used to pray, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to prayer. Oh teach us to pray A so. that we. may receive abundantly. At first there is no work that appears so simple 1 j later on, non'o that is more difficulty and tins conI iessiou is forced from us. Wo know I not how to pray as we ought. Anud

the painful cpnsoiouslness of ignorance anti unworthiness, in the struggle; between believing and doubting, thei Heavenly art of effectual prayer is learned. A pupil needs a teacher who knows his wo>rk, who has the j gift of teaching, who in patience anil love will descend! to the pupils needs. Jesus the) Master teacher is all this and more. He knows, what prayer is, He teaches, by giving not only thoughts of what to ask or how to ask, but by breathing within us the very spirit of prayer, by living within us. as the Great Intercessor. To know how to speak to God, is more than! knowing how to speak to man j not power with inen but power with God is the first thing. As we meditate, on the words He spoke on earth, let ug yield ourselves to His teaching, in the fullest confidence that, with such a teacher we shall make! progress. Let us take time not only to meditate but to pray. To tairry at the foot of the throiite and be trained to the work of intercession.

Lord teach us to Pray. "Oh what pence, we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not cany, Everything to God in Prayer."