“If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:19).
Many years since, an old gentleman, then residing in Nova Scotia, was one night awakened and with an intense desire to pray for the safety of his son, a sea captain, at the time, away on a long voyage. He arose from his bed and fervently besought the Lord not only once but twice that he would take care of this son, whatever the circumstances might be.
Some time after this, the son came home for a visit, and one day as they sat at dinner, the father suddenly exclaimed,
“N., where were you on such a night, of such and such a month?”
At first he was unable to answer but as he thought it over he replied,
“We were on the Pacific Coast, in a terrific gale of wind, and on a lee shore at that, and though we did all we could to move the ship off, it proved unavailing and it seemed we would go ashore, which meant the loss of vessel and all hands. In my extremity I went to my cabin, and there falling on my knees, besought the Lord to save us, and even while thus engaged, the officer in charge shouted down the companion way, ‘Captain, we are all right. The wind is off the land.’ I went on deck, and ordering the necessary change of sail, we proceeded on our course, all truly thankful we had escaped a watery grave.”
Thus we see how the grace of God spans the continent, and that He hears and answers prayer according to the riches of that grace, and thus we are encouraged to pray at all times, assured that our prayers also will be heard as were theirs.
We little know how much we deprive ourselves of, by not persevering in prayer. In the above instance, we see perseverance, simple faith, and unity of the Spirit a combination that ever accomplishes its purpose. Surely, in these last and closing days, this should be the attitude of all those who look for His coming, and with “the Spirit and the bride,” saying, “Come, Lord Jesus.”