PRAYER by Geo. O. States

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 15, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 46.

PRAYER.

By Geo. O. States

BY GEO. O. STATES.

"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Luke 18:1.

WE notice that prayer is a Christian duty and as soon as we cease to pray, we cease to live the Christian life. "I will therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." 1 Tim. 2:8.

As I study this question it seems that God deals with us as a kind and loving father. He not only tells us we ought to pray, but, in Phil. 4:6, tells us to whom we are to pray: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Christ tells us in John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you." In 1 John 3:22 we are told, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

The text shows that obedience is the condition on which God answers our prayers. "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9. So, by refusing to walk in known duty, we place ourselves where God looks upon our prayer as abomination. This is forcibly illustrated in the case of Saul in 1 Samuel 28. The psalmist says: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." We are told in Matt. 5:23, 24, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." No doubt the reason so many prayers are not answered is that we are not willing to comply with the conditions. After complying with all the conditions, we are told in John 15:7: "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." In our fallen condition we may not always know what is for our good, but it is a grand thought to know that our loving Father knows the sincere desire of our hearts and answers for our best good and His glory.

We are told in 2 Cor. 12:7-8: "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Paul had given his life to advance the cause of God, and he felt that his infirmity stood in the way of his usefulness in the Lord's work, he felt that if that could only be removed, he would be far more successful in winning souls to Christ. He earnestly prayed for its removal, but when he got hold of the thought that it was through his infirmity that the power of Christ would be manifested, and that they would see Christ through his infirmity, then he felt that he would gladly endure the affliction, only so the cause of God could be advanced.

Fifty years ago nearly every Christian home had family prayers; but it is a sad fact that, in the hurry and bustle of our time, too many neglect this means of grace, and children are growing up like the boy who was asked if his father was a Christian, who replied that he used to be, but had not worked at it for some years.

As long ago as I can remember my dear mother read the Bible and prayed. After mother's prayer my older brother and then I would pray. My father was not a Christian and seldom remained during prayers. I shall never forget the time he remained and knelt with us during prayers. After brother and I had prayed, I for the first time listened to my father's voice in prayer. It was indeed a happy time in our home. My dear mother wept for joy, and brother and I decided to be very careful not to do anything to irritate father, who was going to live a Christian life. Father and mother died years ago, and my children are grown up, some with families. It gives me great joy to know that they can look back to their early home, and remember it was a praying home. When one of my boys was quite small and did something wrong, I took him to a place where we could be alone and talked and prayed with him over the matter. When we arose from our knees, my little boy put his arms around my neck and asked my forgiveness. That was all that was necessary. It is worth much to a parent to feel that he has his children's confidence that he is living a Christian life.

Christian parents, do you have family prayers? Are you doing all you can to help your children to withstand the influences that are drawing away from faith in God's Word? We are nearing the coming of the Lord and must do all we can to turn the hearts of the children to their parents in order to be prepared for that great day.

Fernando, Cal.