Look back honestly at your prayers, and you'll be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. Some may think their prayers worthy of acceptance—like the Pharisee did. But the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers. If he could retrace his steps, he would desire to pray more earnestly.

Remember, Christian, how cold your prayers have been! When in your closet you should have wrestled as Jacob did. Instead, your petitions have been faint and few—far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith which cries, "I will not let you go unless you bless me!"

Yet—wonderful to say—God has heard these cold prayers of yours. Not only heard them, but answered them!

Reflect also: how infrequent have been your prayers, unless you've been in trouble! Oh, when crisis hits, you go often to the mercy-seat. But when deliverance comes? Where is your constant supplication then? You cease to pray as once you did, but God has not ceased to bless. When you've neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it. The bright light of the Shekinah still blazes between the wings of the cherubim.

Oh! It is marvelous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is he who hears the prayers of those who come when they have pressing wants but neglect him when they've received a mercy! Who approach him when forced to come but almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few!

Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."