There was a Sunday school which was attended by sixty or seventy scholars. One of these, a girl of about fourteen years, gave much trouble to her kind teachers. She was a good-natured girl, but very mischievous, and took away the attention of the other scholars by her naughty ways.
No amount of talking made her any better; and at last the teachers were discouraged, and thought that they must expel her. But one of them, who pitied the girl, begged the others to allow her one more Sunday.
They agreed, and made the matter a special subject of prayer.
Next Sunday they waited anxiously to see how the girl behaved herself. To their surprise and joy, she sat quite quietly, and made no attempt to behave badly. From that time she was a different girl. Before, she had caused sorrow; afterwards, she did all that she could to give others pleasure. Such is the power of prayer, God hears the feeblest prayer that His loved ones offer in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Sometimes we pray for something which is not good for us, and we are surised that we do not get it. But it is not that God does not hear us. Surely, He who does not forget the sparrows, will not forget us, for whom He spared riot His own Son. (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)).
This same scripture, however, goes on to say that one must ask in faith, nothing doubting; and that he who doubts, ought not to think he shall receive anything of the Lord.
ML 07/11/1943