The Wonders of Prayer by Various

V >> Various >> The Wonders of Prayer

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

"This was more than I could stand. My feelings overcame me, and I sat
down and cried like a child. But these were not bitter tears of sorrow.
They were tears of joy and gladness, of gratitude and thankfulness. I
felt ashamed of myself for doubting God's word, and I prayed that I
might never do so again. What pleasure I had in using that wood! Every
stick of it, as I took it up, seemed to have a voice with which to say
'Jehovah-Jireh.' As Abraham stood on the top of Mount Moriah he could
say, 'The Lord _will_ provide.' But every day, as I went into our
woodshed, I could point to that blessed pile of wood sent from heaven,
and say, 'The Lord _does_ provide.'"

A REFRACTORY MAN COMPELLED TO PAY A DEBT.

A refractory man who owed a small debt of about $43, refused to pay it
all, but offered to do so if ten dollars was taken off. His creditor,
feeling that it was just, declined to abate the amount.

For more than a year the creditor waited, after having no attention paid
to his correspondence or, claim by the debtor, who exhibited
unmistakable obstinacy and want of courtesy. At last it was put into the
hands of a lawyer. The lawyer, too, was fairly provoked at the
faithlessness of the debtor in his promises or his attention to the
subject; thus matters dragged wearily for months, yet exercised leniency
in pressing the claim.

The creditor, whose forbearance had now reached the extremity of
endurance, at last was led to take it to the Lord in prayer; saying he
would "willingly forgive the whole debt if in anything he was wrong, but
if the Lord thought it was right, hoped that his debtor _might be
compelled to pay the amount he so obstinately withheld_."

To the astonishment of all, a letter received from the lawyer four days
after, informed him _that his debtor had called and paid the claim in
full_ with interest to date. "In doing so, he said he paid it _under
protest_," thus showing he was _compelled by something he could not
resist to pay it all_.

A HURRICANE PASSES AROUND A SHIP.

A Sea Captain relates to the editor of the _Christian_, a remarkable
incident, whereby in one of his voyages his ship was unaccountably held
still, and thereby saved from sailing directly into the midst of a
terrible hurricane:--"We sailed from the Kennebec on the first of
October, 1876. There had been several severe gales, and some of my
friends thought it hardly safe to go, but after considerable prayer I
concluded it was right to undertake the voyage. On the 19th of October
we were about one hundred and fifty miles west of the Bahamas, and we
encountered very disagreeable weather. _For five or six days we seemed
held by shifting currents, or some unknown power, in about the same
place. We would think we had sailed thirty or forty miles_, when on
taking our observations we would find we _were within three or four
miles of our position the day before_. This circumstance occurring
repeatedly proved a trial to my faith, and I said within my heart,
'_Lord, why are we so hindered, and kept in this position_?' Day after
day we were held as if by an unseen force, until at length a change took
place, and we went on our way. Reaching our port they inquired, 'Where
have you been through the gale?' '_What gale_?' we asked. '_We have seen
no gale_.' We then learned that a terrible hurricane had swept through
that region, and that all was desolation. We afterwards learned that
_this hurricane had swept around us, and had almost formed a circle
around the place occupied by us during the storm. A hundred miles in one
direction all was wreck and ruin, fifty miles in the opposite direction
all was desolation; and while that storm was raging in all its fury, we
were held in perfect safety, in quiet waters_, and in continual anxiety
to change our position and pursue our voyage _One day of ordinary
sailing would have brought us into the track of the storm, and sent us
to the bottom of the sea._ We were anxious to sail on, but some unseen
power held us where we were, and we escaped."

The Captain was a prayerful man, trusting in his Lord, though his faith
was tried, and he thought the Lord was not helping him. Yet the Lord was
keeping his promise to him, "_The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in
safety by him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long_."

RECOVERY FROM SPINAL DISEASE.

"Miss M---- is the daughter of a respectable farmer, an elder in a
Presbyterian church in Western Pennsylvania. When a young girl her spine
was injured while nursing her aged and helpless grandmother, and she has
been a great sufferer for many years. For eleven years she has not been
able to attend church nor to go from home, and for a long time was
unable to leave her chamber or her bed. Two years ago she was so ill
that hopes of her recovery were abandoned, her mind was thought to be
seriously, even hopelessly impaired. Her physician acknowledged that her
disease baffled his skill.

"A few months ago, being near her residence and hearing that her health
was better, I called on her, and to my surprise, found her able to sew,
walk about, and even go down stairs. She informed me that she suffered
so intensely from the remedies used for her cure, and constantly grew
worse, that she determined to do nothing more; it seemed like fighting
against God; she would put herself into His hands to do with her as He
pleased. Then it seemed to her that the Saviour came to her and said,
'M----, what aileth thee?' She told Him all her case, and He soothed and
comforted her. From that time she began to improve; the paroxysms of
pain grew less, and disappeared; her nervousness was relieved, she could
sleep, her mind was full of peace. She said, 'I am not cured, and do not
expect to be well, but I can bear what I have to suffer, and am willing
to depart whenever it is the Lord's will to take me away to himself.'"

PRAYER FOR A PAIR OF BOOTS.

In the Fall of 1858, H----, a student in the Theological Seminary at
Princeton, N.J., was in great need of a new pair of boots. His toes were
sticking out of his old ones, and he had no money to purchase new ones.
All the money he could command was barely enough to pay his fare to his
home, where be had promised a dear friend to be present on the
approaching communion Sabbath.

H---- was a man of great faith, and was accustomed to carry all his
wants to God in prayer. To God he carried the present emergency, and
earnestly importuned Him, that He would send him a pair of boots, and
that He would do it before the approaching Sabbath. He was persuaded
that God heard, and would answer his petition, yet his faith was sorely
tried. Saturday morning came and still there was no answer; he resolved,
however, to go to his home, fully persuaded that God would in good time
grant his request. He took the morning train at the Princeton depot, and
reached home about eleven o'clock. It was a hard trial for him to go to
"Preparatory Lecture" with his boots in the condition they were in; yet
at two o'clock he went, still praying that God would send him a new pair
of boots. During the service, a merchant in the town took a seat in the
same pew with him, and at the close of the service, without a word being
spoken on the subject, the merchant, after shaking hands with H---- and
inquiring of his welfare, asked him if he would do him the favor of
going down town to a certain boot and shoe store and select from the
stock as good a pair of boots as he could find, and, said the merchant,
"have them charged to me." It was, as, H---- said to me on his return to
the seminary, a direct answer to prayer. Indeed, it might be said of
H---- that he went through college and seminary _on prayer_. He laid all
his plans before God, pleaded his promises, and never was disappointed.

UNDER GARMENTS IN ANSWER TO PRAYER.

Among the students in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J., in
1860, was my intimate friend L----. He was at the time poorly clad, but
was a devoted Christian, and is at present a successful foreign
missionary.

One day when on the Seminary campus, I heard two of the students very
thoughtlessly criticising the exceeding shabbiness of L----'s wearing
apparel, his short pants, old shoes, and socks with no heels in them. At
almost every step L---- took when playing ball, his bare heels could be
seen. That day, after evening prayers, I took L---- by the arm, for a
walk to "Orthodox point," a tree about a mile distant from the Seminary.
During our walk, I gently told him of the criticisms I had heard, and
learned more fully than I had ever done of his destitution of wearing
apparel, especially of under garments. I offered him a share of mine, or
the loan of money, so as to meet his present wants, but this he declined
to receive, saying, that he "would take it to the Lord in prayer," and
that God would in good time supply all his wants. I, too, bore his case
to the throne of grace. The next day after this, on going into his room,
he laid before me an empty envelope, and a five dollar bill, and asked
me the question, "Did you throw that envelope with that bill in it,
through that ventilator?" I assured him that I did not. "Well," said he,
"when I came in from recitation a short time ago, I found this envelope
on the floor and that five dollar bill in it. It has evidently been
thrown in through the ventilator." We both recognized God's hand in the
provision made and mentally gave thanks to our Heavenly Father. Soon
after this, "a missionary box" was sent to the Seminary, and my friend
was therefrom well supplied with under garments. Frequently afterward
did he say to me, in substance, "Prayer is the key to God's treasury.
Trust in Him and the Lord will provide."

UNEXPECTED RELIEF.

Henry Badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the
incident, and a resident of Steuben county, State of New York. This was
in the year about A.D. 1830-31. He had been for many years an invalid--
so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away
with him. In a forest, isolated from neighbors, the old man resided
alone with an aged wife. They were quite poor, and wholly dependent upon
the labor of a son who worked away from home for others. This son was at
length taken sick with a fever, and unable to minister to his parents'
wants. This was in mid-winter, when storms were frequent and the snows
deep and lasting. One evening when the storm was at its highest, this
old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house.
Matters were desperate with them. They could see but starvation staring
them in the face. They resolved upon prayer, having a firm trust in
their Heavenly Father, whom for many years they had been humbly serving.
They did not retire, but continued in fervent prayer that God would send
them food. About two and a half miles distant lived a young married man
in comfortable circumstances, by the name of Joseph Clason (the author
of the story). He was not at this time a Christian, although it was not
long after this he was converted, and has since lived an eminently
active and godly life. About 12 o'clock on the night of the snow storm
above mentioned, young Clason awoke. His first thoughts were of old Mr.
Badgerow and his condition in that storm. His mind became so impressed
with the thought of him, and so wrought upon that he could not again go
to sleep, although trying so to do. At length he awakened his wife, told
her that he was in trouble about Mr. B., for fear he and his wife were
starving. She replied that if he would get right up and make a light,
she would prepare something, and that he had better take it right down.
Young C. did so, taking with him a pail of provisions. After a jaunt
through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night, he reached the old
man's cabin. There he found a light burning. He knocked; the door was
opened by the wife. The old man was fervently praying; but when he saw
young C. with the pail of provisions, he held up both hands and said,
"Now I know that God heareth prayer. Not one mouthful have we in the
house to eat. I know that God sent you here." Young C. staid with the
old couple until daylight. The conversation revealed that about midnight
the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen, and that unless relief
came, which was not likely, they would starve, resolved to appeal to his
Heavenly Father, saying that God who sent the ravens to feed Elijah
would feed him if he went to him in faith, and now God had heard his
prayer, and he blessed God that he could do so in all trouble and trial.

The old man having asked C. how he came to visit them, he replied he
didn't know, but supposed God had sent him, as he had awoke and couldn't
again sleep on account of thought of him.

The incident made a serious and lasting impression on young C's mind.

In the morning, as C. was returning home, he came by his father's house;
his mother, espying his pail, wished to know where he had been. He
replied, "To feed the hungry." His father spreading the incident, the
neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them
during several weeks, the old man being greatly loved and respected by
his community, on account of his sterling Christian life and character.

Mr. Joseph Clason is still living, now seventy-five years of age, in
Bazine, Ness county, Kansas.

THAT BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT. HOW THE LORD USED IT.

A lady and gentleman were walking up Madison avenue, New York City, from
church, when incidentally the lady said, "We are trying to get up
Christmas decorations and entertainment for our Mission School."

"_Well, put my name down for anything you like_," and then came into his
mind a certain sum to give.

A day passed on, it seemed forgotten; but a note from the lady reminded
him of his promise, and he responded, giving the exact sum originally
thought of, $25. Notice, now, the most singular disposition of it,
which, by the hand of Providence, was made to go on its circuitous way
to meet those who needed it most.

The next Sabbath, the lady and gentleman again meeting each other, she
said, "Your gift was too large. I cannot take so much from you. I shall
give you back part."

"But I won't take it."

"Well, you must. I can't keep it."

It resulted in the lady taking $15 from her muff and forcing it back
into the gentleman's hand.

The gentleman felt badly. "_I intended this for the Lord, and now it is
refused. It is the first time I ever heard that money ever given to a
Sunday school was not wanted. I meant the whole for the. Lord_. If she
don't want it and wont keep it, I will give the rest away. _It does not
belong to me_." Before night he had enclosed it in a letter and sent it
out of the city to an invalid as a _Christmas present_. He had occasion
not long after to visit the invalid, and was fairly astonished at the
extraordinary circumstances connected with its use; and this is his
story, told in his letter to the lady who returned the $15.

"The sequel to the $15 is far more beautiful and wonderful than anything
I have ever known. This invalid had been praying for some money for a
needed article of dress to protect her from cold. _The_ $15 _came the
very next morning in answer to her prayer. But it was more than enough_.
As a consistent Christian, having asked the Lord only for enough to meet
but one need, she felt as if the rest belonged to the Lord and must be
used for Him. So in wondering how to use it, she thought of a poor woman
who needed a new calico dress, and at once bought it and gave it to her.
She had but $5 left. A dear friend was in distress; his horse and
carriage had been seized for failure to pay the livery bill of their
keeping; he could not collect any money of the debts due him, to pay his
bill, and had nothing. His wife and children were in New Britain, and
here he was, no means to get there. The little Christian invalid sent
him her $5, the last money she had, not knowing where her next was to
come from, with these words: "_The Lord has sent you this_," and though
he offered to return, or use only part, she said, "_No, the Lord meant
this for you_. You must keep it, I will not take it back." Now see how
beautifully all these incidents have been made to work for the good of
many, by the managing hand of Providence.

"My original gift of $25 to you was _more than enough_. You did not need
it all for your Sunday-school, and the Lord made you force back the $15
upon me. I could not keep it, because I felt, it belonged to the Lord.
So I sent it to the little invalid.

"She, too, had only needed a part, and used only what she asked the Lord
for, and then she, in her turn, gave the rest away. The most wonderful
part of it is, that the money you gave back to me, and I gave to the
Lord, was _three-fifths of the amount you received_, and the money the
little invalid gave away _to the Lord_ was also _three-fifths the amount
she received. The money which you kept for your use was just two-fifths,
and the money that the invalid kept for her own use was just two-fifths
also. The very next day after she had given her money away_, a lady
called and gave her some money, which _was precisely the same amount_
which _the poor woman's calico dress_ had cost, (though she knew nothing
of the circumstances), and in return for the $5 which she gave her
friend in distress, and refused to take back, the Lord remembered her
and gave her a good home.

THE WIDOW'S WOOD AND FLOUR.--THE UNBELIEVING ONES MADE SPEECHLESS.

The following instance is known to _The Christian_ as true, and to a
remarkable degree indicates how thoroughly God knows our minutest needs,
and how effectively He makes those who ever reproach his name ashamed of
their unbelief.

"A friend and relative of the one who was 'a widow indeed,' one who
trusted in God, and continued in supplications and prayers day and
night, was once brought into circumstances of peculiar straitness and
trial. She had two daughters who exerted themselves with their needles
to earn a livelihood; and at that time they were so busily engaged in
trying to finish some work that had long been on their hands, they had
neglected to make provision for their ordinary wants until they found
themselves one Winter's day in the midst of a New England snow storm,
with food and fuel almost exhausted, at a distance from neighbors, and
without any means of procuring needful sustenance.

"The daughters began to be alarmed, and were full of anxiety at the
dismal prospect, but the good old mother said, 'Don't worry, girls, the
Lord will provide; we have enough for to-day, and to-morrow may be
pleasant,' and in this hope the girls settled down again to their labor.

"Another morning came, and with it no sunshine, but wind and snow in
abundance. The storm still raged, but no one came near the house, and
all was dark and dismal without.

"Noon came, and the last morsel of food was eaten, the wind was almost
gone, and there were no tokens of any relief for their necessities.

"The girls became much distressed, and talked anxiously of their
condition, but the good mother said, 'Don't worry, the Lord will
provide.'

"But they had heard that story the day before, and they, knew not the
strong foundation upon which that mother's trust was builded, and could
not share the confidence she felt.

"'If we get anything to-day the Lord will have to bring it himself, for
nobody else can get here if they try,' said one of the daughters,
impatiently, but the mother said, 'Don't worry.' And so they sat down
again to their sewing, the daughters to muse upon their necessitous
condition, and the mother to roll her burden on the Everlasting Arms."

Now mark the way in which the Lord came to their rescue, and just at
this moment of extremity, put it into the heart of one of his children
to go and carry relief. _Human Nature_ at such a time would never have
ventured out in such a storm, but waited for a pleasant day. But Divine
Wisdom and power made him carry _just what was needed, in the face of
adverse circumstances, and just at the time it was needed_.

"Mr. M. sat at his fireside, about a mile away, surrounded by every
bounty and comfort needed to cheer his heart, with his only daughter
sitting by his side.

"For a long time not a word had been spoken, and he had seemed lost in
silent meditation, till at length he said, 'Mary, I want you to go and
order the cattle yoked, and then get me a bag. I must go and carry some
wood and flour to sister C.'

"'Why, Father, it is impossible for you to go. There is no track, and it
is all of a mile up there. You would almost perish.'

"The old man sat in silence a few moments and said, 'Mary, I must go.'
She knew her father too well to suppose that words would detain him, and
so complied with his wishes. While she held the bag for him, she felt
perhaps a little uneasiness to see the flour so liberally disposed of,
and said, 'I wish you would remember that _I_ want to give a poor woman
some flour, if it ever clears off.' The old man understood the
intimation and said, 'Mary, give all you feel it duty to, and when the
Lord says stop, I will do so.'

"Soon all things were ready, and the patient oxen took their way to the
widow's home, wallowing through the drifted snow, and dragging the sled
with its load of wood and flour. About four o'clock in the afternoon,
the mother had arisen from her work to fix the fire, and, looking out of
the window, she saw the oxen at the door, and she knew that the Lord had
heard her cry.

"She said not a word--why should she? She was not surprised!--but,
presently, a heavy step at the threshold caused the daughters to look up
with astonishment, as Mr. M. strode unceremoniously into the room,
saying, '_The Lord told me, Sister C, that you wanted some wood and
flour_.'

"'_He told you the truth_,' said the widow, 'and I will praise Him
forever.'

"'_What think you now girls_?' she continued, as she turned in solemn
joy to her unbelieving daughters.

"_They were speechless_; not a word escaped their lips; but they
pondered that new revelation of the providential mercy of the Lord,
until it made upon their minds an impression never to be effaced.

"From that hour they learned to trust in Him who cares for _His needy_
in the hour of distress, and who, from His boundless stores, supplies
the wants of those who trust in Him."

A PAIR OF SHOES.--THE LORD'S REBUKE TO THOSE WHO "DIDN'T BELIEVE."

The following incident occurred in Connecticut: In an humble cottage two
sisters were watching over and caring for a much-loved brother, who, for
many long months had been upon a bed of sickness. At length, the younger
of them began to be discouraged. She was dependent, for her clothing,
upon her labor; her shoes were worn out, and how should she get another
pair, unless she could leave the sick bed and go away from home and work
and earn some money.

"Well," said the mother, "I know you need a pair of shoes, but don't
worry, the Lord will provide."

"_Do you think that_ THE LORD _will come down from heaven and buy me a
pair of shoes_?" said the younger sister, with an expression of
discouragement and vexation on her countenance.

"No," said the mother, "but perhaps he will put it into somebody's heart
to buy you a pair."

"Perhaps He will, _but I don't believe it_," said the discouraged girl.

"Well," said the other sister, who was a little more hopeful, "you won't
get them any quicker by fretting, so you might as well be quiet." Then
the subject dropped and the day passed as usual.

As the shades of evening were gathering, a brother who lived at some
distance, and who knew nothing of their previous conversation, called to
inquire after their prosperity. After the customary salutations he said,
"You have been sick here a long time, and I thought I would come round
and see if I could not do something for you; thought perhaps by this
time the girls needed something." Then turning to the younger sister, he
said, "_How is it, aren't your shoes worn out?"_

She dropped her eyes, blushed deeply, and, perhaps, a little
conscience-smitten, answered not a word. Nothing was said of the
previous conversation, though it was not forgotten by those who heard
it. The brother soon saw for himself enough to satisfy him, and said no
more, but went away. The next day _two pairs of shoes_ were sent around
to her, and with them came to her heart a lesson which she never forgot.

She lived many years after that, but was never heard to murmur in that
way again, and often said that the two pairs of shoes taught her to
_wait, hope and trust_, and thereby learn implicit confidence in Him who
sendeth all blessings. The last time she alluded to the occurrence, she
said, "_I was speechless then, but, by the grace of God, I will not be
in the world to come_."

THE LAME HEALED.

Rev. Charles G. Finney, during his life-time, was familiar with the
circumstances connected with the remarkable healing of a sick lady in
Oberlin, O., the wife of Rev. R.D. Miller, and these facts were vouched
for as unquestionably authentic. Mr. Finney says:

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27