F.E. Marsh
Prayer's Comprehensiveness

“In everything … let your requests be made known unto God” (Phl 4:6).

Annie Anderson, a character in Alex Forbes of Howglen, by George MacDonald, is represented as being sent to bed by her unkind guardian—

“Groping her way up the steep ascent, she found her room without difficulty. As it was a clear, starlight night, there was light enough for her to find everything she wanted; and the trouble at her heart kept her imagination from being as active as it would otherwise have been, in recalling the stories of ghosts. She got into bed, and began saying her prayers, when she was startled by hearing a scratching noise, which she knew came from rats. What followed is here related:

“‘I tried to cry oot [out], for I kent’ [knew] at it was rottans [rats]; but my tongue booed [stuck, clung] i’ my mou’ [mouth] for fear, and I cudna speak ae word.’

“The child’s fear of rats amounted to a frenzied horror. She dared not move a finger. To get out of bed with those creatures running about the room was as impossible as to cry out … her heart cried—

“‘O God, tak care o’ me frae [from] the rottans [rats].’

“There was no need to send an angel from heaven in answer to this little one’s prayer; the cat would do. Annie heard a scratch and a mew at the door. The rats made one frantic scramble, and were still.”

Too often we miss the privilege we have in making known our requests in “everything.” We quite believe the “everything” has to do with the big things of life, but we do not think so regarding the small things.

The main thing suggested by the above is, the Lord uses secondary things in answering our petitions.

• Moses cried to the Lord when the Israelites were bitten by fiery serpents, and the Lord’s healing came through the looked-to brazen serpent (Num 21:9).
• The ravens feeding the prophet Elijah (1Ki 17:4-6).
• The king healed of his carbuncle [boil] (Isaiah 38:21).
• The cleansing of Naaman from his leprosy (2Ki 5:6-14).
• The woman being made whole through touching the hem of Christ’s garment (Mar 5:27-28).
• The stretching of Elisha on the young child (2Ki 4:33-35). And
• the saturating of Gideon’s fleece with the dew (Jdg 6:36-40),

are a few of the many instances of how God uses means in answering prayers.

Prayer is made up of petition, plea, and intercession. Petition for personal blessing, such as “Lord help me;” plea for the fulfilment of promise; and intercession or supplication for others.

Prayer is the environment which kills the microbes of spiritual disease, and brings spiritual health and vim [energy, enthusiasm].