The British Nation is being asked to observe tomorrow, March 23rd, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. The thought behind such a call to solemn and humble supplication is an ever deepening realization that to understand the religious meaning of what is happening we should open our minds to the voice of God speaking to us through outstanding events. There is much for which we can give thanks—firstly, when France fell, our deliverance as a nation from what appeared almost certain disaster: secondly, the degree of national unity that has been evolved; thirdly, that our people have shown unsuspected qualities in face of an unprecedented emergency; and fourthly, that good is being brought out of evil. To use the Archbishop of Canterbury's own words: "It is one of the good things that come out of evil that we are learning, as perhaps never before, what it means to belong to a community, that it is a fellowship of high and low, rich and poor, one with another in common' cares and sufferings, and sacrifices and hopes, and in one united purpose for the common good." All our clouds of sorrow have been touched with glory and through the dusty atmosphere of care God's light has shone.
And we would fain probe more deeply into the significance of all that is taking place. Such is the purpose of prayer, and if ever there was a time for earnest petition surely the present is such a time. It is natural and right that in this day of judgment Christians should turn to Him who gives light in darkness, hope amidst doubts and uncertainties, and wisdom to save. from all false choices.
In the Oxford Dictionary prayer is defined as "a solemn and humble request to God". In its simplest form prayer is to ask earnestly, meekly, supplicatingly. Jesus said: "Ask. and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." To pray then is to ask, to seek, to knock,....but that is only the beginning. To be effectual prayer should and must become an attitude of We, a bent of the mind, a quest of the soul: and that attitude, that bent, that quest must be towards God. Every man's life is in some sense an unceasing state of prayer. For what is a man's prayer but his ruling passion? To the man who loves wealth, the accumulation of riches becomes the dominant desire or prayer of his life. To the man who loves fame, success, power, a life of ease or a dozen other things of which the mind can-think, such desires become the prevailing petition of his life. The Christian conception of prayer is to make the service of God and of one's neighbour the governing rule of life—to make God's will our will; God's purpose our purpose; God's design our design. If as a result of an empire-wide call to prayer people will allow this conception of prayer to crystallize, they will already have secured an answer to their entreaties—they will have gained a clearness of insight, a confidence and a courage that will sustain and strengthen for whatever the future may hold.
In what frame of mind should God be approached? This is answered for us in two notable parables, the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, and that of the Prodigal Son. Both of these parables teach that a man (or a nation) should come to God not only with a sense of need, but also with a deep sense of unworthiness. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers." "But the publican, standing afar off, could not lift up so much as his eyes unto heàven, but smote his breast saying. God, be merciful to me a sinner." Is it any wonder that Jesus said that the publican "went down to his house justified rather than the other?" And readers will recall what the prodigal said after he had made an utter failure of his life: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no.more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." From these incomparable parables we learn how our country should approach God. Before Him we have no claim to merit, no ground for self-congratulation. With downcast eyes and a beating of the breast the empire should come with the penitent's prayer: "God, be merciful, we are sinners." Drawing near to God with this sense of unworthiness we shall find that the nation's prayers will release blessings which are always within men's reach. but which cannot be enjoyed unless men pray for them. We have been placed in a world that is full of good things suitable to our every need. Yet it is certain that the world is so ordered that very few of these good things can be enjoyed by us, unless we take the trouble to appropriate them. As is the natural world so is the spiritual world—there are incalcul. able forces available but they can be released only by prayer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.