MacDonald: why we need to pray

Monday, October 28, 2019
    Feast of Simon & Jude, Apostles
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] Do not be like [the pagans], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
    —Matthew 6:8 (NIV)
Quotation:
    We know that the wind blows; why should we not know that God answers prayer?
    I reply, What if God does not care to have you know it at second hand? What if there would be no good in that? There is some testimony on record, and perhaps there might be much were it not that, having to do with things so immediately personal, and generally so delicate, answers to prayer would naturally not often be talked about; but no testimony concerning the thing can well be conclusive; for, like a reported miracle, there is always some way to daff it; and besides, the conviction to be got that way is of little value: it avails nothing to know the thing by the best of evidence... “But if God is so good as you represent Him, and if He knows all that we need, and better far than we do ourselves, why should it be necessary to ask Him for anything?”
    I answer, What if He knows prayer to be the thing we need first and most? What if the main object in God’s idea of prayer be the supplying of our great, our endless need—the need of Himself? [Continued tomorrow]
    ... George MacDonald (1824-1905), “The Word of Jesus on Prayer”, in Unspoken Sermons, Second Series, London: Longmans, Green, 1886, p. 66-67,72 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 6:8; Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; 12:29-30; John 3:8; Heb. 13:5-6
Quiet time reflection:
    Above all, Lord, I need You in my prayer. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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