August 21

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. John 16, 25.

Here the Lord not only makes the promise that the Father will grant our petition, but He repeats the promise and confirms it with an oath, "Verily, verily." Can we doubt His promise? Must we not believe the promises of our Savior and our God?

But why is it that many complain of their prayers being unheard? There are not a few who ask foolish or hurtful things. Prayer as only too often practised is a sin rather than a virtue. People say "Father," but there is no childlike confidence in their hearts. They add, "who art in heaven," but they do not speak and act as if they were in the presence of the Divine Majesty. They pray, but their every action clearly shows that without

prayer they would be just as well supplied and just as happy. Prayer which deserves the name is a different thing. It is addressed to God and has a purpose, and he who speaks such a prayer trusts in Christ's grace and is confident of being answered.

Does it not frequently happen, however, that we pray for a certain thing, but fail to receive it? It does. But why? Because we prescribe to God the time and manner when and how He should help, or because we do not at once see the helping hand of God. True, God has promised to hear us, and some understand this to mean that they will receive whatever they ask for. A little reflection will show us, however, that this is setting bounds to the providence of God. If He promises to give us good gifts, He must also be permitted to judge what is good for us and to answer our prayers accordingly. God gives us everything that is truly good for us. But we must remember that He knows far better than we do what is truly good for us. And He surely hears our prayers and grants us that which is best for us.

Does God, then, really hear every proper prayer? Yes, but in His own manner and at His own good time. When Paul besought the Lord to take a certain heavy burden from him, He said: "My grace is sufficient for thee." At Cana the Lord said: "Mine hour is not yet come." Not yet, but it will come. What, therefore, is necessary? Persistence in prayer. In this the Canaanitish woman was a model.

Prayer.

Dear heavenly Father, we are poor, unworthy sinners, not fit to raise our eyes and hands to Thee in prayer. But because Thou hast commanded us to pray and hast promised to hear us, and because Thou hast given us both the words and the manner of prayer through Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, while on earth, we confidently come to Thee in prayer and do not doubt that Thou wilt hear us. In Thy Son's name we come before Thee and offer our prayer, no matter who we are, confident that it is yea and Amen with Thee, that is, that it is surely heard. Glory be to Thy name that we may have this comforting assurance! Amen.

Glorious Lord, Thyself impart; Light of Light, from God proceeding, Open Thou our ears and heart, Help us by Thy Spirit's pleading; Hear the cry Thy people raises, Hear and bless our prayers and praises.