away all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Even in our normal lives, our personal relationships make the difference as to our ability to con verse freely with them on all sub jects. It is the same with the Lord. We should be living like an open book before Him. He is not to be a stranger to us as we come through faith confessing our needs. We need to learn to spend more time alone with the Lord if we would enjoy that type of close communion and fellowship which brings inward satisfaction and spir itual victory. Scripture reveals to us that when we pray to the Lord we are actually on an intimate relationship with Him spiritually. As our concerns involve others we enter into the vital ministry of intercession (I Timothy 2:1). Personally, one of the most fruitful moments in my life is when I converse with the Lord while I am driving along. While still being conscious of what is on the highway I still have the privilege of sharing with the Sav iour the things which weigh on my mind. If we are true believers in Christ, it does not make any difference where we are. We can always reach the heart of God through prayer. We should have great boldness as we present the concerns of other people to the Lord. Dr. Harry Ironside relates how he had been preaching in the Midwest holding meetings in a certain church where the people never came together for prayer. They explained that since they already had all spiritual blessings in Christ, as well as pos sessing ample material things, they really did not seethe need. He was rather appalled and asked that they
would at least remember him that God would grant freedom of speech as he travelled, preaching the Gospel. Some time later, Dr. Ironside was serjously ill. He col lapsed while in the pulpit with typhoid fever and a temperature of 106 degrees. It took him quite a while to recover. It was about a year later that he again held a meeting with this strange group of Christians. They explained, "You know, when we heard you were sick we prayed for you twice a week until we heard you had re covered." Dr. Ironside was sur prised that they then stopped re membering him. He pointed out, "That's unfortunate, too. Now that I am preaching Jesus Christ I am faced with all of the spiritual test ings and temptations which could be far greater than typhoid fever." Unfortunately, we too forget those in need once we hear their crisis has past. This is not to say that God will only take care of a Christian if we are faithful in praying for them. This is not the meaning of inter cession. Rather we have the privi lege of sharing the blessings He gives to others through our re membrance. Prayer is also a definite oppor tunity to present our requests to the Lord. (Who of us does not have many?) Paul calls these supplica tions which is simply our earnest petitions. The God of the universe invites us to present them to Him. What a blessed cure for anxiety and worry (4:6, 7). It is so easy to become troubled and upset. There are untold fears, frustrations and failures which plague us all. We have been promised that as we come in prayer the peace of Page 53
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