December 15

Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. Philippians 1:3, 4.

No duty is so frequently set before us in the Holy Scriptures as that of prayer. The sacred volume abounds in exhortations and encouragements to the diligent exercise of this high and holy privilege. Both by precept and example prayer is constantly urged as a duty of the highest importance, the right fulfilment of which is attended with the choicest blessings. The subject of prayer is indeed of vital importance to each one of us. Our spiritual life cannot be sustained in any vigour, if sustained at all, without prayer. It is the very breath of the spiritual life, the unfailing token of its vitality. What is prayer? Prayer is communion with God. It is the reaching forth of the soul of man after God. It is the act of putting ourselves into the more immediate presence of our Father in heaven, and of communing with Him. It is reverently speaking to God with kindled affections and a submissive will. It is laying bare our hearts before Him. It is realizing the blessed truth that though everywhere God is to be found by those who look for Him, yet in the still hour of prayer we endure "as seeing Him Who is invisible," and with the deepest prostration of soul adore in the brightness of the Heavenly Presence. Let us reform our prayers and we shall reform our lives.

The wrestler, who an earthly crown would gain, Casts each besetting care and weight behind; The mariner, to cross the distant main, Gives thoughts of rest and softness to the wind, For wealth that lasts and joys that cannot fail They every fading trifle cast aside, With sound true heart, if so they may prevail, Trusting in hopes which with their God abide.