Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 18, DeMotte, Jasper County, 17 March 1944 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by REV. GEO. GOTSCH

Pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN Before going into the meditation on the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, we shall speak in two sermons on Prayer in General. This subject is so great that we can touch on the “highspots” only. We shall treat the subject by answering a number of questions. What is prayer? When we speak to God. As a rule we utter the wor<l~ with our lips, but at times only in our thoughts and heart.. The Lord hears even the desire of the humble. So the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart are prayers acceptable to God. To whom should we pray? Certainly to Him only who can hear, the only true God, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Yet the majority prays to idols, or to spirits of their imagination. The Triune God alone is able and willing to hear and. grant our prayer. Jesus Himself said, “Thou shall worship .Thy God and Him only shalt thou serve.” What should move us to pray? Inumerable times we are told in the Bible to pray. Therefore, God’s command should move us to pray. And God gives us His solemn promise that He would hear our prayer. Furthermore, if we look at ourselves, our manifold needs, we should be more than willing to pray. For whom should we pray? Selfevidently for ourselves. In prayer let us think of ourselves first and foremost! But do not neglect to pray for others as well, even for our enemies, as'did Jesus on the cross. Where should we pray? Any place we might be is suitable for prayer; but there are places especially suitable, for instance, public worship, at the beginning, at the end, as well as during service. Do not neglect prayer in the family circle, above all when you are all by yourself, in private. When should we pray? There is no such a thing as an unsuitable time for prayer, but especially in time of trouble and need we should pray. Regularity also is important, for instance at mealtime and in the morning and evening family devotion. These are a few pointers on prayer Next week we shall have a few more. Sunday School at 10:00, service at 10:45.