In this space in the next issue of "China's Millions"
will be given, D.V., an enlarged and revised list of PRAYER CIRCLES
meeting in various places
at stated times
in behalf of this Mission's work
FOR CHINA
MANY ] Mr Hudson Taylor, when
leaving for China wrote in tin- English edition of "China's Millions": 'There
has been a connection, very apparent to those of us engaged in tin- work, be
tween this (the London) Prayer Meeting
tin amount of blessing experienced in China:
when the one has flagged the other has been
lessened, and when the Prayer Meetings have been
good tin- blessing has increased. Never were we more dependent than at the present time
The very lives of our missionaries may depend
upon the' faithfulness of God's praying people
We hope, then, that the friends will attend this meeting, not merely for their own refreshment,
Inn as an act of definite service to Christ and to His church, and as their effective aid in rescuing
the perishing. We trust likewise that many at
a distance will be present in spirit, and join their Supplications, .is we hope to do ourselves, with
those who gather together."
These words, written so many years ago, are
equallj applicable to-day, and we invite friends
to join— or begin a circle for united regular
prayer in behalf of China as a service to Him.
Prayer Union Secretary
CHINAS MILLIONSTORONTO, JANUARY, 1921
COUNTRY HOMES IN THE PROVINCE OF KIANGSU. NOT IN THE FAMINE DISTRICT. BUT SHOWING CHINAS CHARACTERISTIC LACK OF PROSPERITY P'holograph by Miss L. E. PJlueguPerpetual Praying
The Prayer Union Letter, or annual message, for 1 92 1 , from Rev. HENRY W- FROST, the Home Director.
to the members of the Prayer Union*
' 'Pray without ceasing'
'
—/ Thessaloniaiis 5:17
IT is to be noted at once that the words. "Pray
without ceasing," are more than the expression
of a wish, or the urging- of something desirable, or the formulating of an exhortation. They are unmistakably a divine commandment. Coming from
the Apostle Paul and through the Holy Spirit, they
reach us in the form and with the authority of God's word and law, revealing the divine purpose
toward us and putting us under a divine obligation.
Praying without ceasing then, is not optional with
the Christian, any more than stealing or committing
adultery is. All of God's commandments come from
the same high source and with the same full authorit}-. It is not, therefore, for the saint to pick and
choose amongst them. It is his obligation to keep
them, each and all. The above being true, it is possible for the Christian to keep this commandment. It must be confessed that it does not seem possible, and indeed,
that experimenting with the commandment has
made it appear to many persons wholly and increasingly impossible. But God's commandments never
present impossibilities. Properly understood and
applied, it may be assumed that they may always be
fulfilled. In spite of all natural difficulties then, wemay be sure that this word is for our keeping. Dayby day and night by night ; when we are thinking of
prayer and when we are not ; when we are quiet
and when we are busy ; when we are awake and
when we are asleep, we may always be praying. As
a matter of fact. Paul probably had foremost and
chiefly in mind, when he wrote his words, praying
in the conscious moments of life. Nevertheless, the
Spirit gives his phrase a larger application and
hence it may be more extensively obeyed. Literally, we may pray without ceasing.
Praying perpetually is possible because prayer
may become a habit. It is indeed a poor life which
knows no prayer except at the formal times of worship—in church or at the prayer meeting or at the
bed-side. It is right to bend the knees, fold the
hands and bow the head, for God is well pleased with
the regular observances of intercession. But the
man who gets no farther than this in his prayer life
*The Prayer Union was begun in 1893 and has
steadily grown. New names are continually added while
other names disappear. Some are called to the Lord's
presence; some are turned aside by Him to a different
service in His vineyard; others simply forget. There is always need of more help in prayer. Members of the
Prayer Union are not asked to pledge a definite amount
of time; in enrolling they simply declare an earnest intention to help by intercession, and receive an annual "Member's Card" giving special subjects for prayer and a weekly cycle that covers the provinces of China in daily
groups together with the names of North American
workers.
Suggested special subjects for prayer for 1921, are: (1)
For the enlargement of our hearts toward God (as to His
ability) and for the expansion of His work in China. (2)
For a true loyalty to the Word of God and the person of
Christ in the churches in home and foreign lands. (3)
For more peaceful conditions in China, where brigandage,
civil strife and famine imperil life and hamper missionary operations. (4) That the Lord of the harvest will thrust forth laborers, and especially men. Among candidates the proportion of men to women has been approximately two to five for many years. (5) That the Chinese
church may accept larger responsibility both in the evangelizing of its own country and in the matter of self-support.
Anyone desiring to become a Prayer Union member
may apply to the Prayer Union Secretary, China Inland,
Mission, 507 Church St., Toronto, Ont.
CHINAS MILLIONShas not progressed far in spiritual experience. There
is such a thing as prayer while standing or sitting,
with the hands unfolded and occupied with many
duties, with the head raised and the eyes wide open.
If it had not been so, Peter sinking in the waters of
the lake would never have been able to pray, "Lord,
save me !" and the thief on the cross would never have been able to cry, "Lord, remember me when
thou comest into Thy Kingdom !" Informal prayer
is as real and vital as formal, as many of God's
saints have found out to their blessing and joy. And
it is this informal praying, added to the formal,
which creates the habit of prayer and fills in the
days, hours, minutes and even seconds with conscious and continuous communication with God.
This is the practice of thinking upward, where
instinctively episodes of life become the occasion of
referring everything to God. Thus, in the nature of
the case, one comes into the habit of incessant
prayer.
Praying perpetually is also possible because
prayer may become constantly enlarged. Little
children find it difficult to pray long simply because
they think short. Having asked for a good night's
sleep and for blessing upon father, mother, brother
and sister, they are at an end of themselves for they
have mentioned all the objects which are in their
view. An older person may pray longer than a child because he has a larger vision of life, with
more matters in it which are the objects of his
desire. Tt is plain then, that the Christian as he
passes from spiritual childhood to manhood may
have the horizon of his prayer-life constantly en- larged. At first, he sees his home, his relatives and
his friends. Later, he may see his town, his state
and his country. Still later, he may see cognate
peoples across the sea. his national kith and kin. At
last, he may see other peoples, civilized and uncivilized, Christianized and unctlristiaiuzed, Jews,
Mohammedans, heathen and pagans, indeed
the whole world. And as his sight enlarges,
so may his prayers enlargi The days arc- far behind him now when he prayed alone
for those who are near and dear to him; he prays
for these and also for those who are near and dear
to God. remembering that the Divine Heart loved
and still loves the whole, wide world. Petition,
therefore, is added to petition, till intercession covers the earth. With such an one the problem
is, not that of getting enough matter to fill tip the
time of prayer, but rather the getting of enough
time to pray for the matters constantly in view. And
the problem is at last solved by praying all the time.
Praying perpetually is also and finally possible
because, in the last analysis, the one who prays is not so much a given individual as the Holy Spirit
who dwells within that individual. That is a far
reaching word of Paul's where he says. "Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit." It shows clearly that two persons are involved in each act of prayer, the man who prays
in the Spirit and the Spirit who prays in the man.
This is solemnizing, since it warns us to be sure to
unite ourselves in prayer with the Spirit and to ask
only those things of which lie may approve. At the
same time, it is heartening, for while we may andmust fail—because of natural limitations and infirmities—both in the quantity and quality of ourprayers, the Holy Spirit never fails in the onerespect or the other, for He is supernatural and is superior to all limitations and infirmities. We may,therefore, fall short of perfection, in our praying,but. if our hearts are right toward God, the Spirit
will transform our prayers and make them acceptable before the throne of grace. And likewise, wemay cease conscious praying, as we must do in
times of intense occupation and unconscious sleep,
yet the eternal Spirit remains alert, neither slumbering nor sleeping. The high priest of old wentinto the holy place every day, morning and evening,and there laid the incense on the golden altar. Buthe did not stay there, watching the incense andkeeping his mind fixed upon it. Having performedhis service in the tabernacle, he came out and wentabout his daily avocations, often thinking, no doubt.of the golden altar, but never returning to it till the set time of worship had again come. But whatabout the incense? That, since it had been putthere for the whole day or night, burned on and on. sending up its sweet savor into the nostrils of God.And the reason of this was just one—the fire of thealtar never went out. So long as the fire burned theincense burned, which was without end, day andnight, through the weeks and months and years. Soit may be with us. We may not always offer formal or even conscious prayer. But at stated seasons, more frequently now than morning and evening, we may lay our prayer-incense upon the altarof Gbd, leaving it there by faith to burn continuously through the never dying fire of the HolySpirit. Unceasing prayer, therefore, is often faith
committal and heart attitude, rather than so manywords thought and said. We pray at a given timefor all time —in the morning for the day and for all the day, in the evening for the night and for all thenight. Having done this, while still in the spirit ofprayer, we may work or play or sleep, knowing thatthe eternal Spirit will make our praying like Himself, both constant and unending.
Brethren, are we praying without ceasing' Is prayer the fixed and constant habit of our lives' Is petitioning becoming more and more incessantbecause more and more enlarged? Is intercessionan act and attitude of faith in the Holy Spirit, ourheart- trusting Him for both the perfecting andthe continuing of our prayer-worship? The churchand the world need such praying. Nothing less thansuch interceding will accomplish the purposes
God. Then, brethren beloved, let us pray—and pray—and pray!
"Hugh Latimer, in his last imprisonment, waswont to continue kneeling so long that he was notable to rise without help, and amongst other thingshe prayed for two principal matters. The first thatGod would help him to stand to his doctrine until
his death; the other that God would restore theGospel of Christ unto the realm once again. Andthese words, 'Once again, once again.' he did beatinto the ears of the Lord Cod. as though he spakeunto Him face to face." Selected.