Lord, Teach Us How to Pray.
By M. S. Irish
"After this manner therefore, pray ye, Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name." What a privilege is granted the disciples to call God "Our Father," and to pour forth our love and gratitude to him in strains of praise and honor, the most sacred. Next dearest to our hearts, comes the theme, "Thy kingdom come." Glorious hope! may he hasten it by every means which he shall consider worthy. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." There all are anxiously waiting, ready to bear a message to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Even our Saviour said, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." Are we doing so? Are we saying, Do thy will with me, whether I in my short sightedness can see why this particular trial is sent upon me or not? It may be a blessing which we shall yet be thankful for. Can we say, "If it is possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done?" Second in importance, come the things pertaining to self. 1st, God, his honor, his kingdom, and his will; then food, forgiveness, and help to carry out that part of his will which is assigned to us. For his is the kingdom, and the power, to do his will through our means, if we will yield ourselves willing servants to obey, or through some other means, and we lose the promised blessing by unwillingness, and to him be all the glory forever. M. S. IRISH.