On Prayer and Praise
Upon studying the Lord’s Prayer, the 23rd Psalm comes to mind. There
appears to be a verse by verse parallel between the two. “The Lord”. . . “Our Father”. The last word in both end in “forever.” Of one there is the “house of the Lord”. . the other, “thine is the
Kingdom.” While one is a prayer or petition, the other is praise; a
demonstration of Faith in connection with the prayer. While one is a request,
the other a response. “Our Father which art in heaven” we look upward, we
submit to Him in willing worship; the “Lord is my Shepherd” must cause us to
look inward, to know of His indwelling presence.” in contemplating both we
recognize the Power of His Presence. He is the Sovereign Ruler of Heaven and
earth. If we pray “give us this day our daily bread,” shall we not respond, “He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures and leadeth me beside still waters?” If we pray, “Forgive us our debts”: if we own ourselves guilty of failure,
and in that light are, in lowness of spirit, willing to “forgive our debtors”: shall
He not “restore” our “soul.” Shall He not forgive, cleanse, reconcile us to
Himself? If we pray, “Lead us not into temptation”, shall we not declare, “He
leadeth me in paths of righteousness?” If we pray, “But deliver us from evil”, shall we not say in Faith believing,
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
for Thou art with me; that Thy rod and staff they comfort me”; You are my
deliverance? “But deliver us from evil”: from its power, from its presence; into
His glorious Presence. Shall the enemies of Christ not know that “Thou
preparest a table” for us, that “Thou annointest my head with oil” (honor), and
“my cup runneth over” (joy)? if we acknowledge that “Thine is the Kingdom”;
that heaven and earth is His alone; if the thief could say, Lord, remember me
when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom; shall we not “dwell in the House of the
Lord forever?” If “the power and the glory” are the Lord’s; if He then, is well able to
deliver from evil, shall I not with confidence say with the Psalmist, “Surely (His)
Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life?” Both the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23 end with the Eternal view: “For Thine
is the Kingdom (Thine is) the power (Thine is) the glory — forever!” “And I will
dwell in the house of the Lord — forever!” We must constantly be on guard if our prayer would be effectual. It is far
too easy for us to pray passively and not fervently. Should not prayer be
positive, according to the Will of God, according to the Word of God? Should it
not conclude — no, continue in praise and thanksgiving? “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear...Psalm 46:1,2.
