that they were to eat the bread, for if they had been hungry they could have had more food. The piece of bread, however, was simply to hold through the night. Amazingly the administra tors found this was just what the chil dren needed to give them a sense of security. They began sleeping, reas- SELF-DISCIPLINE When I refuse the easy thing for love of my dear Lord, And when I choose the harder thing for love of my dear Lord, And do not make a fuss, or speak a single grumbling word, That is discipline. When everything seems going wrong, and yet I will not grouse, When it is hot, and I am tired, and yet I will not grouse, But sing a song, and do my work iri school and in the house. That is discipline. When Satan whispers, "Skip your work," say to him, " I won't," When Satan whispers, "Slack a bit," say to him, " I won't." To rule myself, and not to wait for others' do and- don't, That is discipline. When I look up, and triumph over every sinful thing, The things that no one knows about, the cowardly, selfish thing, And when with heart and will I live to please my glorious King, That is discipline. To trample oh that curious thing in side of me that says " I. " To think of others always, never, never of that " I. " To leam to live according to my Saviour's word, "Deny," That is discipline. Amy Carmichael sured in the feeling that they would never need to be hungry again; that when they awakened there would be food, because they held that slice of bread as the guarantee. We have discussed all of this to forcefully point up the fact that prayer provides the emotional and spiritual security for the believer. In James 1:
5, 6 we read, “If any man lack . . . let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally.” In Eph. 3:14, and 20 we are told that God its able to “do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.” In Luke 11:9 our Lord prom ises, “Ask and it shall be given you.” In John 15:7 the Saviour says, “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 I John 3:22 we leam that “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.” I John 5:14 teaches us, “If we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us.” One of the great joys of praying is simply asking and receiving from the inexhaustible source of supply. When our prayer life is backed up with an abiding life and a dedicated heart, there is a continuing flow of fellowship, confidence, and communica tion with God which undergirds us with an unshakeable feeling of secur ity. We pray about our needs, and God in accordance with His promises, sup plies those necessities. The answer to our prayers and the sweet fellowship of prayer itself assures Us that we be long to Him and that He is concerned about our every need. When sin restricts or destroys your prayer life and fellowship with' the Lord, it is inevitable that you will ex perience anxiety, worry, and a feeling of abandonment. “Be anxious for nothing (worry about not one thing), but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanks giving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6, 7). The only way to begin facing ten sions, worries and anxieties, is with a fresh look at our prayer life. If what we see is displeasing to God, then we need to confess the sin of prayerless- ness and know the cleansing and for giveness which He promises (I John 1:9). 21
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