PRAYER AND THE LIFE OF FAITH
PRAYER AND THE LIFE OF FAITH
I do not dictate to God in presenting my difficulties or trials to Him, I do more as Hezekiah did when he spread the letter before the Lord. I do not mean that we should omit detailing our troubles to the Lord; that, of course, must be done. Make known all your requests; and the more minute I am in detailing, the more confidence have I in His interest in me. I am minute, because I feel I require His care and succour as much in the smallest detail as in the largest; and we all know that the smallest feather contributes, or expresses, more love and comfort than the strong quills, though the latter are very necessary. But having minutely spread all my trials before Him, whether they be with relation to myself peculiarly, or in connection with the church, I, according to my faith, leave it to Him to act for me according to His own pleasure, assured that He will. I cannot tell how He will act, and it is more than probable, if my faith be simple, that He will surprise me in the way He will act. It was a surprise to Peter, the way he got out of prison. It was a surprise to Joseph. God answers many prayers even according to their wording, when there is little faith; and often it is the answers which have reminded us that we had prayed. But when I have prayed in faith, I repose in God. I do not know how He will act, but this I am sure of - He will make bare His arm, and make me know that He has most surely acted for my advantage and blessing.
Another thing, and one most important in this life of faith: it is like life itself, it must never stop - I must be ever going on. You can never have faith really if you are not living by it; that is, doing everything in faith - going to the meeting in faith, going to the [p. 226] market in faith, going to visit in faith, reading in faith, everything in faith. Faith is the only power to bear us over the difficulties and dangers of the way. It is our steed; we are not in our race unless we are borne on by faith, faith for the little things as well as for the greatest. May we each abound in it more and more!