" Pray without ceasing."Does not that sound like an extreme statement – one that needs a good deal of modification, and explaining away? Why should it, dear brethren? Our needs are constant, why should the expression of those needs be less constant? Are we not in danger of forgetting our helplessness, of living in our own strength, and thus becoming independent of God?

Take the personal life of each one of us. Prayer will express our sense of dependence upon God, and of our faith in Him. We "walk as men" if we do not pray. Are we growing in grace and holiness? How can we without prayer? We need not wonder if sin tempt us, if the world allure us, if Satan gain the advantage over us. Prayer brings God in:without Him our boasted strength is worse than useless. Oh, if we realized these things would we not be more constant, more earnest in prayer?

The world moves so rapidly, is so wise and strong, that it is to be feared God's people are carried with it. Business calls are so urgent that there is little time to "enter into thy closet" to have a season of communion with our blessed God and Father at the beginning of the day. At night one is so weary that there is danger of a mere form being substituted for the reality. Possibly the family is never gathered for united prayer.

Beloved brethren, if these things are not true of us we can be thankful; if in any measure they are true we can "suffer the word of exhortation." Let us beware of any distaste for prayer; let us cultivate a habit of "praying in the Holy Ghost." Let us not be ashamed of our helplessness. Have we not deep needs, longing desires about which we have not spoken to God as we should? "What is thy request?" "Does this not shame us, as we think our only limitation is not in God, but in ourselves?

When we pass to the state of the Church of Christ, and think of all its responsibility and privileges, what a field for prayer both private and corporate! How is it in our prayer-meetings? Is there much true prayer, liberty before God? Oh may He awaken us to our great need for prayer.