GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO GIVE.
By E. E. Sturges
God is willing to give his children the things they ask for, and many times bestows more than they have faith or confidence to ask. The woman of Canaan begs a crumb, and Jesus gives her a child's portion. She came to have her sick child made whole, and Jesus said, “O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Weary, trembling pilgrim, striving to overcome and obtain eternal life, Jesus speaks just such comforting words to you. Solomon prays for wisdom, and with it God gives him wealth and honor. Abraham asks a child of God, and he gives him a son, and more than this, a numerous offspring, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed. To God's little remnant the promises are great, but how slow of heart are we to believe the good word of God. We daily trample upon exceeding great and precious promises, as upon barren ground, while we cry, “My leanness! my leanness!” forgetting the injunction, “Ask, that your joy may be full.” We need to take counsel of the word. Daniel's method was right. First, he searched the Scriptures to see what was the mind of God before he set his face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer, &c. Dan. ix, 3. “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” Do we believe this? If we do, let us draw nigh unto God with full purpose of heart. Zion languishes; her sons and daughters, many of them, have but a name to live. Rapidly is the end drawing near, and what shall the anxious, waiting ones cry to God for? Clean hands and a pure heart. Oh, that we may be found without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. To the youth in our ranks, I would say, The cause demands the hearty co-operation of such as you. Are you in a condition to work for perishing souls? Have you learned what you may pray for in faith to receive. “This is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to his will he heareth us.” Is this your experience? God will rouse us suddenly if we do not rouse ourselves. His commands oblige us to flee from the snares that Satan lays for us, as well as to pray against them. God will not work for us if we are unwilling to work for ourselves. We have no excuse why we may not help bear the burden of the work. Let us resolve at once to die to self and the world. Then we shall be alive to God, and reflect the image of Jesus. We shall find at last a crown and mansion in Heaven for us.