In one of his great Gospel campaigns in Chicago, Moody asked his helpers to join him in prayer for $6,000 and to ask that it might be sent at once.

They prayed long and earnestly, and before they rose from their knees a telegram was brought in. It was in some such words as these: Your friends at Northfield had a feeling that you needed money for your work in Chicago. We have taken up a collection, and there is $6,000 in the baskets.

“God had prepared the people” (2 Chronicles 29:36 KJV).

In connection with the work of the West London Mission, the Revelation Hugh Price Hughes and his colleagues once found themselves in pressing need of £1,000, and to get quiet they met at midnight to pray for it.

After some time of pleading, one of the number burst into praise, being assured that the prayer had been heard and would be answered. Mr. Hughes did not share this absolute confidence. He believed with trembling.

When the day came for announcing the sum received, it was found that £990 had come in within a very short time and in very extraordinary ways—but there was the deficiency of £10. When Mr. Hughes went home he found a letter which he now remembered had been there in the morning, but through pressure he had left it unopened. It contained a check for £10!

I’ll trust Thy grace —’tis infinite; And knows no bound, nor end.

After Dan Crawford had passed to his eternal rest, it was written of him: “He lived (and his work was supported) by strong faith in the unlimited riches of God, and in the power of prayer. He felt, too, that those riches and that power were available for all Africa, though he knew that not all had the same faith.”

He had a strong sense of unity of God’s work. A certain missionary in Africa, held up in some work for God, wrote to Dan Crawford asking for £100, and excused himself by saying, “You are rich.” When he saw that the same weekly mail that had brought the request had brought also contributions amounting to about the sum mentioned, Dan Crawford sent the whole week’s income to his correspondent with this reply: “Rich? Yes, I am rich—rich in faith for you all.”

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

He might have doled His blossoms out quite grudgingly, God might have used His sunset gold so sparingly, He might have put but one wee star in all the sky— But since He gave so lavishly, why should not I?

A. C. H.

Quick work this! The Lord hears us before we call and often answers us in the same speedy manner.

Foreseeing our needs and our prayers, He so arranges providence that before the need actually arises He has supplied it, before the trial assails us He has armed us against it. This is the promptitude of omniscience, and we have often seen it exercised. Before we dreamed of the affliction which was coming, the strong consolation which was to sustain us under it had arrived. What a prayer-answering God we have!

The second clause suggests the telephone. Though God be in heaven and we upon earth, yet He makes our word, like His own word, to travel very swiftly, When we pray aright we speak into the ear of God. Our gracious Mediator presents our petitions at once, and the great Father hears them and smiles upon them. Grand praying this! Who would not be much in prayer when he knows that he has the ear of the King of kings? This day I will pray in faith, not only believing that I shall be heard, but that I am heard; not only that I shall be answered, but that I have the answer already. Holy Spirit, help me in this!

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause.

Is anything too hard for the Lord ?—Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.—Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.—Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord , and spread it before the Lord . And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord .

It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.—The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.