quiet talks on prayer, cont'd...

In touch with a planet....

Prayer opens a whole planet to a man's activities. I can as really be touching hearts for God in far away India or China through prayer, as though I were there. Not in as many ways as though there, but as truly. Understand me, I think the highest possible privilege of service is in those far off lands. There the need is greatest, the darkness densest, and the pleading call most eloquently pathetic. And if one may go there- happy man!- if one be privileged to go to the honoured place of service he may then use all five outlets direct in the spot where he is.

Yet this is only one spot. But his relationship is as wide as his Master's and his sympathies should be. A man may be in Africa, but if his heart be in touch with Jesus it will be burning for a world. Prayer puts us into direct dynamic touch with a world.

A man may go aside today, and shut his door, and as really spend a half-hour in India- I am thinking of my words as I say them, it seems so much to say, and yet it is true- as really spend a half hour of his life in India for God as though he were there in person. Is that true? If it be true, surely you and I must get more half-hours for this secret service. Without any doubt he may turn his key and be for a bit of time as potentially in china by the power of prayer, as though there in actual bodily form. I say potentially present. Of course not consciously present.

But in the power exerted upon men he may be truly present at the objective point of his prayer. He may give a new meaning ot the printed page being read by some native down in Africa. He may give a new tongue of flame to the preacher or teacher. He may make it easier for men to accept the story of Jesus, and then to yield themselves to Jesus, - yonder men swept and swayed by evil spirits, and by prejudices for generations- make it easier for them to accept the story, and, if need be, to cut with loved ones, and step out and up into a new life.