Many prayers that fail would be answered if means were used by the
petitioner like those employed by Paul Kruger, the former president of
the South African Republic.
At one time, when game was very scarce, he went with a party to
hunt the hartbeest. They scoured the veld for days without a
sign for their prey. Paul Kruger announced then his purpose of
going into the hills to pray for food, like a patriarch of old.
He was gone for a number of hours. When he returned he announced
that in three days a large herd would pass that way. The party
camped. In less than the appointed time the prophecy was
fulfilled, and much game was secured. The Boer hunters were much
struck with wonder, and dubbed Kruger “the man of prayer.”
Some time after, the Kafir who accompanied Kruger on his
expedition of petition told the truth of the affair. Kruger,
when he left the hunting party, had struck out for a neighboring
Kafir kraal, and informed the natives that his men were
starving. If they, the natives, did not discover game in three
days, he said, he would bring his whole party over the hill and
kill every Kafir. The natives, being sore afraid of the Boer
methods, all turned out, scoured the region, and drove the game
to the Boer camp. Thus Kruger’s “prayer” was answered.
(2437)
* * * * *
Stonewall Jackson never failed to invoke the Prince of Peace to
preside over his battles. Old Jim, his faithful servant, said:
“De gen’al is de greates’ man fo’ prayin’ night an’ mornin’ an’
all times. But when I sees him git up sev’al times in de night,
besides, an’ start in prayin’, I knows dar’s gwine ter be semp’n
up, an’ I go straight an’ pack his haversack, ca’se I know he’ll
be callin’ for it ’fo’ daylight.”--_The Sunday Magazine._
(2438)
* * * * *
The tenor of Scripture is that if we are in tune with the divine mind,
and so are receptive of the secret whispers and suggestions of the
Spirit of God, then that Spirit will first inspire in us the prayers
which our Heavenly Father can consistently answer.
Every prayer is a transaction with order. You go home with a
packet of seeds for your little girl, and you take her out, and
say: “This little plot shall be yours. Whatever comes of this
packet of seeds shall be yours.” Now, what can come of a penny
packet of seeds in all this infinite universe, with stars and
systems whirling round? Beauty can come of it! Life can come of
it! Why? Because your little gardener is transacting with order.
She is dealing with law, and law will deal with her, and out of
the seed she sows there shall come beauty to gladden her. When
she kneels an hour or two later, and breathes forth from a pure
heart a prayer to the eternal God for blessing upon herself and
you, will you say, “What good can come of it?” Good can come of
it! Good must come of it! She comes to where law rules, where
right is triumphant. Prayer is not a dip into a lucky bag. It is
dealing with eternal law. (Text.)
(2439)
See EARTH, CRY OF; FAITH AND PRAYER; PREJUDICE DISARMED.
=Prayer, A Child’s=--See CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS IDEAS.