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The call to prayer in times of national emergency
is constantly being repeated in local situations where there
is trouble and strife. The call comes here and now because
of the feuding of paramilitaries on the Shankill, Belfast,
and elsewhere, with its injuries, loss of life, forced movement
of people from their homes, and the fear of those trapped
in such places. The plea for divine intervention is understandable,
for people pray instinctively when they are conscious of their
own inability to solve their problems.
Some children recognised this for when a teacher asked the
question: "What makes man distinct from other animals?"
there were suggestions - worker, thinker, player, but when
it was seen that the other animals also possessed these abilities
the conclusion was that man is the one who prays.
"I assure you that whatever you ask the Father He will
give you in My name. Up to now you have received nothing in
My name; ask now, and you will receive that your joy may be
overflowing." John 16:24
"Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt of
the evening." Matthew Henry.
But what is prayer? No definitions are more pithy and pertinent
than these - it is the voice of faith; it is conversation
with God. Those who pray regard it as the highest activity
of which the human soul is capable. The people of the Bible
who are featured prominently whatever their role in Biblical
history are always men, and women, of prayer. Jesus is THE
man of prayer. He spoke with certainty about its value, "Ask
and you shall receive" and gave us the Pattern Prayer
in which the proper relationship with God and concern for
people is spelled out with brevity, sensitivity, selflessness
and simplicity.
Prayer was the motivating force in the life Jesus lived in
order to fulfil God's will and purpose for him. In all he
said and did there was the sense that God was in everything
with Him. Prayer was conversation with and instruction from
God. Someone described it, "Prayer is not asking favours;
it is asking for orders."
Prayer is real and effective but only when it is accepted.
There are recognisable essentials in prayer - it is God and
for His help in every situation and circumstances of life.
Because it is possible to pray aright it is possible to pray
amiss. Prayer is ineffective when it is self-interested. We
are assured that, "They never sought in vain who sought
the Lord aright." (Rabbie Burns). There is the thought:
"To say my prayers is not to pray, Unless I mean
the words I say; Unless I think to whom I speak, And in
my heart His favour seek."
The point is made in the story Jesus told of the two men
at prayer, a pharisee and a publican, the one self-centred
and self-satisfied, the other in his humility could only pray,
"God be merciful to me a sinner." Self-praise from
one penitence from the other. The prayer of one valueless,
of the other necessary and valuable.
The effectiveness of prayer is accepted by those who pray
as they are advised to do by Jesus himself. And we pray individually
and collectively, for prayer is a major part of Christian
worship. The essentials that apply to personal prayers are
applicable to those of believers when they assemble together
to worship their God.
The form of prayer is important to worshippers. The preferred
prayers may be set and printed or of the moment. Christians
often value well-ordered prayers to which an Amen can be readily
given.
They see the prayers, hear, know, love and use them. And
there are many who choose the spontaneity in prayer even when
they are aware of the warning, "In extempore prayer,
what men most admire God least regardeth." Thomas Fuller.
Whatever the preferences the essentials are to be recognised.
To be avoided are prayers that are just words and worse when
they are like that of the pharisee, a specimen of which was
described as "The finest prayer ever offered to a Boston
audience."
At a D.L. Moody mission meeting someone was called on to
"lead in prayer" using the opportunity the man prayed
and prayed and prayed until Moody said, "While the brother
finishes his prayer we shall sing a hymn." The cricketer,
C.T. Studd, was about to leave the meeting in disgust when
Moody intervened he stayed on to be converted that night.
Tennyson on the effectivenss of prayer said:
"More things are wrought by prayer, Than this
world dreams of. Wherever let thy voice Rise like a fountain
to me night and day. For what are men better than sheep
or goats if knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer,
Both for themselves and those who call them friend."
Sarah Foulkes Moore judges that "every great movement
of God in the world can be traced to a kneeling figure."
Melanethon, the reformer, had this personal testimony, "Trouble
and perplexity drive me to prayer, and prayer drives away
perplexity and trouble."
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