It is well to take God into one's confidence. "If GOD
bores you, tell Him that He does." He is no exacting tyrant, but a
Father caring for His sons. Those who care to do so may find _Prayer
and some of its Difficulties_, by the Rev. W. J. Carey (Mowbray &
Co.), a helpful book to read in this connexion.
A final word may be said with regard to a theoretical difficulty which
many people feel in connexion with the intercessory and petitionary
sides of prayer. Since GOD'S will, it may be argued, is presumably
going to be done in any case, and since He knows the real needs both
of ourselves and of our friends better than we do, what is the point
of praying for them? To many people it may be a sufficient practical
answer to refer to the example and precept of Christ, who both taught
and practised intercessory prayer. But it is possible to go a little
further, and to point out that it appears to be GOD'S will, not merely
that such and such a thing should be done, but that it should be done
in response to our human prayers. True it is that "your Father knoweth
what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him": but our Lord
emphasized this truth, not as a round for regarding prayer as futile
or unnecessary, but as a reason for praying.
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