July 27

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.

Psalms 145:18. 19.

Prayer is an act of worship directed to God, the true God. God is our Father, and we are His children if we believe in Jesus Christ; "for the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me," Christ said to His disciples. Therefore it is our blessed privilege to pray to God, to speak to Him of all our sorrows, to tell Him of all our needs, and to ask Him for help.

Are we praying as much as we should? Many feel as though they were unworthy to come to God in prayer. They think: He will not hear us. Have we not transgressed His commandments and deserved His wrath and punishment? And what have

we ever done that would make us worthy of being heard when we pray to Him?—Now, it is a fact that we all are utterly unworthy in His sight. What can we give to God in return for which we might duly expect Him to hear our prayers? Certainly nothing. We are not worthy to lift our eyes to heaven. We must draw nigh to the Throne of Grace in Christ, our Mediator, “who of God is made unto us Righteousness.” If we appropriate His merits in faith, we are found worthy to stand before the throne of God. “What a Friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” When we pray to Him, we honor Him as God, and in this we should increase day by day and never grow faint.

All true Christians pray. They pray for themselves and for others. They pray in confident faith, in faith founded on the promises of God’s Word. And therefore God will surely hear their prayer. They trust in His love, manifested in the sending of His beloved Son into this world, and in His truthfulness. They have the privilege of free, unlimited, and direct access to the throne of God.

Do you pray? Do you pray in the morning and before retiring? Do you pray at the table and thank God for His bountiful gifts?

Prayer.

O Lord God, we thank Thee that we may pray to Thee and tell Thee of all things that burden our soul. We thank Thee that Thou wilt hear our prayer and that Thou wilt not give us anything that is harmful to us. Teach us by Thy Holy Spirit to pray according to Thy will. We shall thank Thee for Thy merciful protection during the night and ask Thee to be our Guide during the day. We thank Thee for the blessings of the day that is now past and ask Thee to be with us while we sleep. Thou hast promised to supply all our need. Grant us grace to believe Thy promise. Amen.

What are thy wants to-day? Whate'er they be, Lift up thy heart and pray; God heareth thee. Then trustfully rely That all thy need He surely will supply In very deed.