PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 16, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 42.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

Some ministers were once discussing how the command to “pray without ceasing” could be kept. One of them was appointed to write an essay upon it to be read at the next meeting. A servant who heard this exclaimed: “What! a whole month to tell the meaning of that text? It is one of the easiest and best texts in the Bible.” “Well, well,” said an old minister, “Let’s hear how you understand it. Can you pray all the time, Mary.” “O, yes, sir.” “What! when you have so many things to do?” “Why, sir, the more I have to do, the more I can pray.” “Indeed! Well, Mary, let us hear how that is, for most people think otherwise.” “Well, sir,” said the girl, “when I first open my eyes in the morning, I pray, Lord, open the eyes of my understanding; and while I am dressing, I pray that I may be clothed with the robe of righteousness; and when I wash me, I ask for the washing of regeneration; and as I begin to work, I pray that I may have strength equal to my day; when I begin to kindle up the fire, I pray that God’s work may revive in my soul; and as I sweep out the house, I pray that my heart may be cleansed from all its impurities; and while preparing and eating breakfast, I desire to be fed with the hidden manna and the sincere milk of the Word; and as I am busy with the little children, I look up to God as my Father, and pray that I may be His child; and so on through the day. Everything I do furnishes me with a thought for prayer.”—Anon.