Painting: George Lambert
The benefits of prayer
Prayer carries every burden to the Lord — -and leaves it there.
Prayer goes to the Lord . . .
with every need — to have it supplied;
with every enemy — to have it conquered;
with every corruption — to have it subdued;
with every trouble — to have it sanctified,
and with every promise — to have it fulfilled.
Prayer . . .
affects God's heart with a groan,
opens God's hand with a cry, and
obtains the most costly blessings with a tear!
While a man can pray . . .
he can never sink,
he can never be wretched,
he can never perish!
Reader, get and maintain a spirit of prayer; it will . . .
ease your mind,
quell your fears, and
fortify your soul against the sorest trials!
~ James Smith (1802—1862
