of God and conversing with him.  Alas! how few appreciate the privilege of prayer!  How few can properly estimate its true worth!  Jesus by his example has taught us something of the worth of prayer.  His rising a great while before it was day to hold communion with the Father, and his spending all night in prayer to him, teach us something of its importance.  If it was necessary for Jesus to spend so much time in prayer, how much more necessary for us.

Prayer is the energy and life of the soul.  It is the invincible armor which shields the devoted Christian from the poisoned missles shot forth from the batteries of hell.  It is the mighty weapon in his hand with which he fights life’s battles unto victory.  He who lives in prayer reigns triumphant.  His soul is filled with the peace of heaven.  Power is given him over sin and the world.  By prayer all storm-clouds are driven away, mountains of discouragement are cast into the sea, chasms of difficulties are bridged, hope is given wings, faith increases, and joys abound.  Hell may rage and threaten, but he who is frequent and fervent in prayer experiences no alarm.  By prayer the windows of heaven are opened, and showers of refreshing dews are rained upon the soul.  It is as a watered garden, a fertile spot where blooms the unfading rose of Sharon and the lily-of-the-valley; where spread the undecaying, unwithering branches of the tree of life.

By prayer the soul is nourished and strengthened by the divine life.  Do you long for deeper joys? for a greater sense of the divine fulness? for a sweeter balm of hope to be shed upon your soul? for a closer walk with God? then live much in prayer.  Do you desire to feel the holy flame of love burning in all its intensity in your soul? then enkindle it often at the golden altar of prayer.  Without prayer, the inner being will weaken, famish, and die; the fountain of love dry up; the spring of joy cease to flow; the dews will fail to descend; and your heart will become a parched and dreary desert waste.

Look upon the character of Jesus.  Behold his lowliness, his meekness, gentleness, and tender compassion.  Have they any beauty? and would you love to have them grace your own soul? then draw them down from the skies in all their glorious fulness by the fervent prayer of faith.  As through the process of assimilation food is transformed into an active, living being; so through the medium of prayer the character of Jesus in all its transcendent beauty and glory becomes the character of man.

If you desire victory during the day, begin it with prayer.  Not a few hurried words, but minutes of deep, intimate communion with God.  Linger at the sacred altar of prayer until you feel particles of glory drop in richness into your soul, scattering sweetness throughout the whole and relating you to the world above.  In the early morning hour, when the still, balmy breath of nature plays around, let your soul fly away on the wings of prayer with its message of love and praise to its Maker.  Jesus went out a great while before day to hold communion with God.  There is no time better suited for prayer.  The world is hushed in slumber.  There is less sin being committed, and if the world ever is innocent, it is in the early morning time.  We thus get an advantage of the devil and have sweet converse with God before the devil is aware.