The Kneeling Christian Part 6

Do we not make a mistake in supposing that some people have a "gift" of prayer? A brilliant Cambridge undergraduate asked me if the life of prayer was not a gift, and one which very few possessed? He suggested that, just as not everyone was musical, so not everyone is expected to be prayerful!

George Muller was exceptional not because he had a gift of prayer, but because he prayed. Those who cannot "speak well," as G.o.d declared Aaron could, may labor in secret by intercession with those that speak the word. We must have great faith if we are to have great power with G.o.d in prayer, although G.o.d is very gracious and oftentimes goes beyond our faith.

Henry Martyn was a man of prayer, yet his faith was not equal to his prayers. He once declared that he "would as soon expect to see a man rise from the dead as to see a Brahmin converted to Christ." Would St. James say, "Let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord"? (James i. 7.) Now, Henry Martyn died without seeing one Brahmin accepting Christ as his Savior. He used to retire, day by day, to a deserted paG.o.da for prayer. Yet he had not faith for the conversion of a Brahmin. A few months back there knelt in that very paG.o.da Brahmins and Mohammedans from all parts of India, Burma and Ceylon, now fellow-Christians. Others had prayed with greater faith than Henry Martyn.

Who may pray? We may; but do we? Does our Lord look at us with even more pathos and tenderness than when He first uttered the words, and say, "Hitherto ye have asked nothing in My name? Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John xvi. 24). If the dear Master was dependent on prayer to make His work a power, how much more are we? He sometimes prayed with "strong crying and tears" (Heb. v. 7). Do we? Have we ever shed a prayerful tear? Well might we cry, "Quicken us, and we will call upon Thy name" (Ps. Ix.x.x. 18).

St. Paul's exhortation to Timothy may well be made to us all: "Stir up the gift of G.o.d which is in thee" (II Tim. i. 6). For the Holy Spirit is prayer's great Helper. We are incapable of ourselves to translate our real needs into prayer. The Holy Spirit does this for us. We cannot ask as we ought. The Holy Spirit does this for us. It is possible for unaided man to ask what is for our ill. The Holy Spirit can check this. No weak or trembling hand dare put in motion any mighty force. Can I --dare I --move the Hand that moves the universe? No!

Unless the Holy Spirit has control of me.

Yes, we need Divine help for prayer --and we have it! How the whole Trinity delights in prayer! G.o.d the Father listens: the Holy Spirit dictates: the eternal Son presents the pet.i.tion --and Himself intercedes; and so the answer comes down.

Believe me, prayer is our highest privilege, our gravest responsibility, and the greatest power G.o.d has put into our hands. Prayer, real prayer, is the n.o.blest, the sublimest, the most stupendous act that any creature of G.o.d can perform.

It is, as Coleridge declared, the very highest energy of which human nature is capable. To pray with all your heart and strength --that is the last, the greatest achievement of the Christian's warfare on earth.

"LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!".

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