Article May 10, 1941 Issue

Signs of the Times

Topic: Intelligent Prayer

with contributions from James Reid, Frederic S. Fleming, Carl S. Weist, Andrew S. Gill, H. C., Ivanhoe McCollum

[Rev. James Reid, D. D., in the British Weekly, London, England]

If we are to pray at all, we must learn to pray with intelligence. We shall then realize that the big thing in life is not to be saved from physical danger, but to get the courage and initiative to meet it. That is what every sensible parent wants for his children. There are risks in life that have to be taken if we are to live fully. . . . But it is better to face them, whatever happens, than to live wrapped up in cottonwool. . . . Our prayer must be that we should have in all circumstances the Christian spirit. . . .

The courage, resource, and unselfishness that come through prayer may be the very means of avoiding some dangers and overcoming others. Fear always weakens and blinds. By running away from danger we may run into it. By being afraid of trouble we may even bring it on ourselves. Jesus wanted his disciples to be strong men, able to meet trouble and not be daunted by it. He asked for them the power to meet evil and not be coarsened or degraded by it and so lose their souls. "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." That is what we can all pray with a clear mind.

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