March 18

Ye know not what ye ask.—Matthew 20:22.

DO I realize that they know not what they ask who seek only personal ends, or who ask for the end while they overlook the means, and so sever what God has joined together? Do I see that I know not what I ask, if I ask for heavenly glory, and yet ask not for faithfulness in duty, and for grace to bear the cross on the way to the crown? Is it my sincere and earnest prayer, that I may be enabled to see that when prayer is not answered as I desire, it is because God knows what is best?

Earthen vessels are not to teach wisdom to their former. If the clay contends with the potter, it may mar the work of him who hath his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. There is no mist over the eyes of him who is wonderful in counsel.—BOSTON.

Sometimes God answers prayers at once, giving us what we seek. Sometimes he gives some better thing than we ask. Sometimes he answers by giving the very contrary of what we wished, and out of that springs the particular end for which we prayed. "I have prayed for thee," said Christ to Peter, "that thy faith fail not;" and yet Peter fell. But through his fall, in which his faith seemed to fail, he was brought nearer to Christ, and made faithful to the end.

We, ignorant of ourselves,

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers

Deny us for our good. So find we profit

By losing of our prayers.—SHAKESPEARE.