p. 737 | On Prayer by M. O. C.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 48.

On Prayer.

By M. O. C.

Of all the duties of the inner life I suppose there is none which is performed so frequently in a perfunctory manner as private prayer. Probably the rule of our lives since we first learned to whisper our baby prayers at our mothers' knees, has been to "say our prayers" each day, morning and evening. Alas! that "saying" our prayers should be but a too true description of a vast majority of our devotions; the evening comes, so we kneel down, and, with little thought or effort at recollection, repeat our common form, perhaps learned from some book, perhaps still the childish prayers, though we have long outlived our childhood. . . .

Prayer is the lifting up of the heart to God, talking with God. It is the treating him as "our Father;" and as little children look trustfully up in an earthly father's face, and make their little wants known, or tell him their little joys and sorrows, certain of sympathy, so ought prayer to be to us. In prayer we make God our confidant, and as we speak he hears and helps and comforts.

Are we glad and full of joy, then we follow James's advice, and being merry, "sing psalms." Are we anxious and careworn, then we go and lay our burden down at his feet, and even as we lay it there, relief and comfort come, and he "refreshes" us, and as we rise from our knees we feel such a wondrous fullness of vigor, such a simple trust, that though the trouble remains it no longer crushes nor weighs us down. A praying Christian brings to bear against all difficulties, within and without, the host of Heaven, yea, God himself, and surely "if God himself be for me, I can a host defy." My sisters, if we would grow, if we would but really live, we must pray, and pray continually. "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." It must not be only great needs, great joys, great sorrows, that must bring us to our knees, but the tiny daily trials and pleasures of life should all be the subjects of prayer.—M. O. C., in Penny Post.