ritual stores and streams and the soul will grow and develop
accordingly. There is but little danger of lingering too long at the
feast. There is much danger of famine while the Christian as a citizen of
this world has certain secular duties to perform, yet amid these he
communes and walks with God. While he may be intellectually engaged in the
problems of life, the higher affections of his soul live upon heavenly
things. He thus drinks of the refreshing dews of glory until the beauteous
graces of Christ are imbibed and infused throughout his very existence and
the holy image of God is seen upon him.

The effect of a prayer of faith is almost without limit. By it Daniel shut
the mouths of lions. The Hebrews walked unhurt amid the flames. Elijah
shut up the heavens until it did not rain for more than three years. The
waters of the sea have been divided, the walls of cities thrown down,
armies turned to flight, kingdoms subdued, the prison-doors opened, the
barren womb has become fruitful, the lame have been made to walk, the deaf
to hear, the blind to see, the dead raised to life and the soul redeemed.
Oh, the wonders of prayer!

Satan, knowing how disastrous to his kingdom is the Christian's prayer of
faith, will do all he can to hinder. He will heap upon you duties of life;
tell you that you have no time for prayer. When you do pray he will try to
make your prayers hurried and insincere. He will try to divert your
attention when at the altar of prayer. He will be constantly presenting
thoughts of secular duties. He will strive to make your devotions formal
and irksome. He will cast over you a feeling of awful indifference and
then advise you not to pray until you feel more like it. He will make the
heavens appear as brass above you, and tell you God does not hear you.
Christian, you know by the Word of God what is your duty. It is to pray.
Then pray you must. It is the language of the Bible. Disregarding your
feelings, pray. Disregarding the suggestions of Satan, pray. As you value
your soul, pray, and "pray without ceasing."

Fastings.

That the apostle Paul considered fasting an excellent means for spiritual
development is evident from his writings. He says that the ministers of
God should approve themselves by "much patience, in afflictions, in
necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in
labors, in watchings, in fastings." 2 Cor. 6:4, 5. In speaking of himself,
he says he was "i