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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
He does not do this, if it is true that say ing ‘no’ is an answer to prayer in the sense in which ordinary people use the term, then he need not be surprised. I f an answer to prayer means the granting o f the thing for which request is nfade, then God answers prayer or. He does not. If at times He does not answer, all the sufferer needs is to submit to the inevitable. That is all he can do. But if God does not answer and if there is a difficulty with himself—if his prayer is not prayer but a form, a pretense—then there may be help. I f he can learn the difficulty and remove it, he may receive the answer which he desires. ON STAND ING OR FALLING “I believe-the question discussed in this chapter to be o f the first importance. If this teaching is correct, then the one who has brought his request and has not received his answer is put upon an investi gation. I f answered prayer is riot prayer which produces the result desired, then another course is obviously called for. Whatever may be found to be true as to this question will determine the whole prayer-life o f the Christian. “ Let me once more record my conviction that answered prayer is prayer which accomplishes the results desired. T o say that the answer may be ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and that the latter is as really an answer as thè former, seems to me trifling with the sore hearts and the great needs o f man.’’ ----------O--------- Miss Elizabeth V. Coan went to Urumia in 1914. Besides being ill herself with typhoid, she has nursed the sick, visited among them, held services when possible, played the organ for church and re-Com- menced her Turkish lessons abruptly stopped at the beginning o f the invasion of Urumia by the Kurds and Turks. She writes: “ In spite o f the experiences o f my first year on the foreign field, I would rather be a missionary than anything else in the world. The past months have taught me lessons o f trust which I never would have learned in the same way under easier conditions.”
things, gave his heart and mind to them, read the newspapers and magazines, any thing except the Bible, never searched the Scriptures, never knew what God required o f men who prayed, did not really knoiy how to pray, did not pray, cried out in the time- o f stress as a wild animal groans when caught in a cyclone, or when he feels the pull o f the halter that is drawing hipi up to the killing block. Why should such an one say that God has not answered his prayer? Why should he be told that God has answered his prayer but has said ‘no?’ The fact is, the poor man has not prayed. “ I do not forget that God is very patient with our ignorances and that where He finds the heart right He attaches small importance to words, but He does attach importance to heart attitude. I f the heart does not pray, the man does not pray, no matter what his words may be and we ought not to say to persons who do not pray, have not prayed, do not know how to pray, that God answers their prayers, only He answers ‘no’ instead o f ‘yes.’ PASS TO THE POSIT IVE “An answer to prayer is the granting o f the thing which a child asks o f his Heav enly Father, according to the directions which his Father has clearly set down. If a saint prays for healing for himself or his child or his friend, and God asnwers his prayer, the sick person will be recovered. I f a saint prays in Scriptural fashion for relief from financial difficulties, he will be relieved. If he prays in Scriptural fashion for victory over the powers o f evil, he will obtain victory. An answer to prayer is a granting o f the thing desired. Saying ‘no’ to a request is not an answer to prayer in any real, substantial meaning o f the expres sion. When God answers prayer, He says ‘yes.’ “ If men have made many petitions which they consider prayers, on which they have not realized, the first question for them to ask is whether or not they have really prayed. O f course, it would be o f help to them to decide whether or not God always does answer prayer. I mean grant the things for which petition is made. If
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