August 20

For all things are for your sakes. — 2 COR. iv. 15.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. — MATT. xxi. 22.

"PRAYER is the cry of faith to the ear of mercy." Our text invites us to pray, encourages us to pray, and promises us the largest and most blessed results, conditioned only upon faith. "Unbelief, like the grub in the tap-root, cuts off the fundamental sources of life." Sincere prayer is altogether reasonable. "Will he who advises you to ask, refuse afterward to give what you ask?" Do not stagger at the broadness of the promise, "all things." He is able: and what is needful, what is best for us, he will not deny. What has not been granted in answer to the prayer of faith! Saint Chrysostom says: "The strength of fire has been subdued; the rage of lions bridled; anarchy hushed; wars extinguished; the elements appeased; demons expelled; the chains of death burst; the gates of heaven opened; diseases assuaged; frauds repelled; cities rescued from destruction; the sun stayed in its course, — in a word, whatever is an enemy to man hath been destroyed," and whatever is a blessing hath been granted. But if we insist upon having "all things" for ourselves let us be careful how and what we ask, keeping in mind that God knows best.

Wm. A. Leach

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

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