NOTE C, Chap. IX. p. 109.
Just yesterday again—three days after the conversation mentioned in the note to chap. vii.,—I met a devoted young missionary lady from the Interior. As a conversation on prayer was proceeding, she interposed unasked with the Remark: "But it is really impossible to find the time to pray as we wish to," I could only answer: Time is a quantity that accommodates itself to our will; what our hearts really consider of first importance in the day we will soon succeed in finding time for." It must surely be that the ministry of intercession has never been put before our students in Theological Halls and Missionary Training Homes as the most important part of their life-work. We have thought of our work in preaching or visiting as our real duty, and of prayer as a subordinate means to do this work successfully. Would not the whole position be changed if we regarded the ministry of intercession as the chief thing—getting the blessing and power of God for the souls entrusted to us? Then our work would take its right place, and become the subordinate one of really dispensing blessings which we had received from God. It was when the friend at midnight, in answer to his prayer, had received from Another as much as he needed, that he could supply his hungry friend. It was the intercession, going out and importuning, that was the difficult work; returning home with his rich supply to impart was easy, joyful work. This is Christ's divine order for all thy work, my brother: First come, in utter poverty, every day, and get from God the blessing in intercession, go then rejoicingly to impart it.
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