(Once again, I am having to post a day early ... and will possibly do so next week also. However, week after next I will likely post a day or two late. Thank you for your patience with me during these scheduling conflicts. Also, I'm unfamiliar with this method of e-mailing--please bear with me. )

Dear Friends,

You may have, like me, been given well-meaning advice from fellow believers when you first began your Christian walk. Perhaps it was when you joined the church, or when your spiritual eyes were opened and you first saw the glorious light of truth, that you were told that "all your problems were now solved", and/or that "now rest and peace would be your continual experience". I heard these, and other generalizations, that–although there was a measure of truth in them, which was more fully realized as I went further on the path–were not realities that issued forth quite as simply as they were presented. Yes, a path through problems–with Christ as my Shepherd and King–was now a very real hope; and rest as well as peace became realities that shaped my life. But the life I was now living as a follower of Christ was also participation in warfare. There was no primrose path that I could skip merrily along until I was called to "skip on home to heaven". There were enemies to face and battles to be won. Yes, there were always bles'sed green pastures and still waters along the way, but the way to them was sometimes over hilly terrain that involved strain and effort, persistence and fortitude, and--most of all--a trustworthy and capable Leader and Guide.

A necessity for our journey, for the war, is the ability to be in communication (and communion) with our loving Guide and Commander-in-chief. Yet, even there, problems can arise that can cause us to stumble on the way. Elisabeth Elliot, borrowing from Amy Carmichael, addresses some of these problems in her essay on "struggling in prayer", and both of these faithful believers offer us helpful and straightforward direction in this area, using Scripture as the basis for their comments.

My prayer is that the thoughts expressed in Elisabeth’s essay, and in Amy's comments, will be an encouragement to you to "pray always" and not be discouraged as you journey on the path of faith, and that you will continue to always look "unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

In His Grace,
Elaine

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Title: Prayer is Conflict
Author: Elisabeth Elliot

Prayer is no easy pastime. As I grow old I find that I am more conscious than ever of my need to pray, but it seems at the same time to become more of a struggle. It is harder to concentrate, for one thing. I was greatly helped by some private notes Amy Carmichael wrote to her "Family" (hundreds of children and their helpers, both Indian and European) in Dohnavur, South India, to help them prepare for a special day of prayer.

She quoted Paul's letter to the Colossians (2:1, KJV): "I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you." He is referring at least in part to the conflict of prayer. . . .

Here are Amy's notes:

WITH WHAT DID I STRUGGLE?

1. With all that says to me, what is the use of your praying? So many others, who know more of prayer than you do, are praying. What difference does it make whether you pray or not? Are you sure that your Lord is listening? Of course He is listening to the other prayers but yours are of such small account, are you really sure He is "bending His ear" to you?

2. With all that suggests that we are asked to give too much time to prayer. There is so much to do. Why set aside so much time just to pray?

3. With all that discourages me personally--perhaps the remembrance of past sin, perhaps spiritual or physical tiredness; with anything and everything that keeps me back from what occupied St. Paul so often--vital prayer.

WHAT WILL HELP ME MOST IN THIS WRESTLE?

1. The certain knowledge that our insignificance does not matter at all, for we do not come to the Father in our own name but in the Name of His beloved Son. His ear is always open to that Name. Of this we can be certain.

2. The certain knowledge that this is Satan's lie; he is much more afraid of our prayer than our work. (This is proved by the immense difficulties we always find when we set ourselves to pray. They are much greater than those we meet when we set ourselves to work.)

3. Isaiah 44:22 and kindred words, with 1 John 1:9, meet all distress about sin. Isaiah 40:29-31 with 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 meets everything that spiritual or physical weariness can do to hinder. Psalm 27:8 with Isaiah 45:19 meets all other difficulties. And the moment we say to our God, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek," His mighty energies come to the rescue. (See Colossians 1:2,9.) Greater, far greater, is He that is in us than he that is against us. Count on the greatness of God. But are we to go on wrestling to the end?

No, there is a point to which we come, when, utterly trusting the promise of our Father, we rest our hearts upon Him. It is then we are given what St. Paul calls access with confidence (Ephesians 3:12). But don't forget that this access is by faith, not by feeling, faith in Him our living Lord; He who says "Come unto Me" does not push us away when we come. As we go on, led by the Holy Spirit who so kindly helps our infirmities, we find ourselves in 1 John 5:14,15 and lastly in Philippians 4:6, . It is good to remember that immediate answer to prayer is not always something seen, but it is always inward peace.

And if the day ends otherwise and we are discouraged? Then tell Him so, "nothing ashamed of tears upon His feet" [here she is quoting from F.W.H. Meyers's poem "St. Paul"]. Lord, Thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee. "Yes, my child, I know." But don't settle down into an "it will never be different" attitude. It will be different if only in earnest we follow on to know the Lord.