Lesson 54: Prayer in harmony with the being of God, part 1
John 11:41-42 – …Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear me, but I said this because the people standing around, that they may believe that You sent Me.
Psalm 2:7-8 – …You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
In the New Testament we find a distinction made between faith and knowledge. “To one is given, through the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit.” In a child or a simple-minded Christian there may be much faith with little knowledge. Childlike simplicity accepts the truth without difficulty, and often cares little to give itself or others any reason for its faith but this: God has said. But it is the will of God that we should love and serve Him, not only with all the heart but also with all the mind; that we should grow up into an insight into the Divine wisdom and beauty of all His ways and words and works. It is only then that the believer will be able fully to approach and rightly to adore the glory of God’s grace; and only then that our heart can intelligently comprehend the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that there are in redemption, and be prepared to enter fully into the highest note of the song that rises before the throne: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”
In our prayer life this truth has its full application. While prayer and faith are so simple that the new-born convert can pray with power, true Christian science finds in the doctrine of prayer some of its deepest problems. How far is the power of prayer a reality? How can God grant to prayer such mighty power? How can the action of prayer be harmonized with the will and the decrees of God? How can God’s sovereignty and our will, God’s liberty and ours, be reconciled? These and other like questions are fit subjects for Christian meditation and inquiry. The more earnestly and reverently we approach such mysteries, the more shall we in adoring wonder fall down to praise Him who hath in prayer given such power to man.
One of the secret difficulties with regard to prayer—one which, though not expressed, does often really hinder prayer—is derived from the perfection of God, in His absolute independence of all that is outside of Himself. Is He not the Infinite Being, who owes what He is to Himself alone, who determines Himself, and whose wise and holy will has determined all that is to be? How can prayer influence Him, or He be moved by prayer to do what otherwise would not be done? Is not the promise of an answer to prayer simply a condescension to our weakness? Is what is said of the power—the much-availing power—of prayer anything more than an accommodation to our mode of thought, because the Deity never can be dependent on any action from without for its doings? Is not the blessing of prayer simply the influence it exercises upon ourselves?
Prayer: Everlasting God, the Three-in-One and Thrice-Holy, in deep reverence would I with veiled face worship before the holy mystery of Your Divine Being. And if it please You, oh most glorious God, to unveil any of that mystery, I would bow with fear and trembling, lest I sin against You, as I meditate on Your glory.