Prayer-craft Is Greater Than Aircraft!

From Streams In The Desert 2 (Mrs. Charles E. Cowman)

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; not the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be- which God cares for. Passion of spirit is what avails much.

There is nothing that makes us love someone as praying for him, and when you can do this sincerely for anyone, you have fitted your soul for the performance of everything that is kind and civil toward him. Be daily on your knees in a solemn, deliberate performance of this devotion, praying for others in such form, with such length, importunity and earnestness as you would for yourself; and you will find all little, ill-natured passions die away, your heart will grow great and generous. (William Lane)

The prayers of godly men and women can accomplish more than all the military forces in the world. Prayer-craft is greater than aircraft.

Because you prayed-
God touched our weary bodies with His power
And gave us strength for many a trying hour!
In which we might have faltered, had not you,
Our intercessors faithful been, and true.

Because you prayed-
God touched our lips with coals from altar fire,
Gave spiritfulness, and did inspire
That, when we spoke, sin blinded souls did see;
Chains of sin were broken;
Captives were made free.

Because you prayed-
The dwellers in the dark have found the Light;
The glad good news has banished heathen night;
The message of the Cross, so long delayed,
Has brought them life at last-
Because you prayed

(Charles B. Bower)

Originally published February 16, 2012

SOMEBODY PRAYED Words: Louise J. Walker, Cephas, Bethy Music: Cephas, Bethy Hands reaching out over oceans and mountains, Helping press onward when I was afraid, Thirsty souls drank at the life-giving fountain, Somebody somewhere had earnestly prayed Chorus: Somebody prayed and my burden was lighter, Somebody prayed and my path became clear, Clouds rolled away and the sunshine was brighter, Jesus my wonderful Saviour was near Faith flickered low as I battled affliction, Jesus the mighty Physician was there, Healing me, giving me joy in His presence, Answering somebody's unfailing prayer [Chorus] Souls for the Master that afar I may gather, Trophies at last at His feet to be laid, "Well done" He'll say, but I think I will answer, "It's all by Thy grace, Lord, 'cause somebody prayed" [Repeat Chorus Twice]

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Life is to Learn to Love! - The Daily Voice

By J.R.Miller from Streams in the Desert 2

The great business of a true Christian life is to learn to love. Mr. Browning, in his Death in the Desert, puts into the mouth of the dying Saint John these words:

For life, with all it yields of joy or woe,

And hope and fear-believe the aged friend-

Is just our chance o´the prize of learning love,

How love might be, hath been indeed, and is;

And that we hold thenceforth to the uttermost

Such prize despite the envy of the world.

Life with all its experiences is just our chance of learning love. The lesson is set for us-" Thou shall love"; "As I have loved you, that you also love one another." Our one thing is to master this lesson. We are not in this world to get rich, to gain power, to become learned in the arts and sciences, to build up a great business, or to do large things in any line. We are not here to get along in our daily work, in our shops, or schools, or homes, or on our farms. We are not here to preach the gospel, to comfort sorrow, to visit the sick, and perform deeds of charity. All of these, or any of these, may be among our duties, and they may fill our hands; but in all our occupations the real business of life, that which we are always to strive to do, the work which must go in all our experiences, if we grasp the true meaning of life at all, is to learn to love, and to grow loving in disposition and character.

We may learn the finest arts of life-music, painting, sculpture, poetry, or master the noblest sciences, or by means of reading, study, travel, and converse with refined people, may attain, the best culture; but if in all this we do not learn love, and become more gentle in spirit and behavior, we have missed the prize of living. If in the midst of all our duties, care, trials, joys, sorrows, we are not day by day growing in sweetness, in gentleness, in unselfishness, in thoughtfulness, and in all branches of love, we are not learning the great lesson set for us by our Master in this school of life.

"If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1John4:11)

Originally published March 2012.

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