your heart is heavy, your mind is dull, and you do not know how to pray or what to say, it would be helpful just to repeat these great petitions. Do it thoughtfully and reverently. Paul knew that there are times when we do not know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit guides us faithfully and helps us through our difficulties. Our Lord also had a great deal to say about the manner of pray ing. It is never to be done simply to please or to be heard of men. Our Father who sees in secret is going to reward us openly (Matthew 6:6). There is no shame for us to be found on our knees before the Lord. We desperately need such soul communion with God. Shut the door to the world. Psalm 4:4 reminds us, "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still." Our Lord Him self went up into a mountain to pray and to be alone with His Father. Scripture constantly encourages us to take time to pray. It is not something which can be done ef fectively on a rushed or hurried basis. So frequently we say the same thing over and over again. We may do little more than just praying before our meals. This can not be considered as real interces sion at all. This is our primary means of power over the enemy who would bring spiritual defeat to our souls. We are challenged with the reminder, in times of national and international unrest that men ought always to pray and not faint! Have we really learned the lesson of what a great privilege it is to ex perience the wonderful power arid
peace which is available through conversation with the Lord? This was Paul's prescription for daily contentment (4:6, 7). You will recall the parable of the man who had an unexpected guest. He went to the home of a friend at midnight and asked, "Lend me three loaves of bread for a friend of mine who has come to me in his journey. I do not have anything to give him to eat." The person next door was stub born and complained, "Do not trouble me. The door is shut and my children are with me in bed. I can not get up and give you bread." This did not satisfy his petition so he kept right on knock ing at the door. The tired neighbor probably mumbled to himself, "If I do not get up and give him what he wants he will probably keep me up all night!" So he arose and gave him what he needed. Luke 11:5 to 10 records how that his constancy and consistency was finally rewarded. The Saviour fur ther illustrated, "Ask and it will be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." The Lord is glorified in answer ing the prayers offered in the name of Christ (John 14:13-14). Our in tercession is on the ground of the atonement. There on the cross Jesus "paid it all" on our behalf for all eternity. As we come to God in prayer there should be a confession of our sins in deepest humility. Christ tells of the two men who had gone up to the temple to pray (Luke 18:1Off). The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other men as to their gross sins. At the same time the publican, standing
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