prayer

Without faith a prayer has only form. Without faith a prayer has not heart or flame.

I know not why His hand is laid In chastening on my life, Nor why it is my little world Is filled so full of strife; I know not why when faith looks up And seeks for rest from pain, That o'er my sky fresh clouds arise And drench my path with rain. I know not why my prayer so long By Him has been denied; Nor why, while other's ships sail on, Mine should in port abide. But I do know that God is love, That He my burden shares, And though I may not understand I know for me He cares. I know the heights for which I long Are often reached through pain, I know the sheaves must needs be threshed To yield the golden grain. 'Tis that I thus may learn to love And know as I am known, I will not care how rough the road That leads me to my home.

I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

Following his brief inaugural address to the Congress, President George Washington and his party walked over to St. Paul's Church for divine services. His prayer that afternoon was: "Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large."

Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and; Whereas, both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceable to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness"; Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th Day of November Next, to be devoted by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, and that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; . . . to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the City of New York, the 3rd day of October, a.d. 1789.

Who rises from prayer a better man, his prayer is answered.

Oh, how lovely was the morning! Radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, Sweet birds Singing, Music ringing through the grove. When within the shady woodland Joseph sought the God of love. Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing 'Twas the boy's first uttered prayer When the powers of sin assailing Filled his soul with deep despair; But undaunted still, he trusted In his heav'nly Father's care. Suddenly a light descended. Brighter far than noon-day sun, And a shining glorious pillar O'er him fell, around him shone. While appeared two heav'nly beings, God the Father and the Son. 'Joseph, this is my beloved; Hear Him!" Oh, how sweet the word! Joseph's humble prayer was answered, And he listened to the Lord. Oh, what rapture filled his bosom, For he saw the living God.

[God desires] not that He may say to them, "Look how mighty I am, and go down upon your knees and worship," for power alone was never yet worthy of prayer; but that He may say thus: "Look, my children, you will never be strong but with my strength. I have no other to give you. And that you can get only by trusting in me. I can not give it you any other way. There is no other way."

Time spent on the knees in prayer will do more to remedy heart strain and nerve worry than anything else.

Prayer is a confession of one's own unworthiness and weakness.