I have sometimes tried to conceive of the history of
one prayer. I have endeavored to follow it from its in-
ception in the human mind, through its utterance by
human lips; in its flight up to the ear of Him, and on
its journey around unnumbered parts in the organism of His decrees,
and on its return from these altitudes, with its golden train
of blessings to which eternal counsels have paid tribute
at His bidding, I have endeavored to form some conception of
the methods by which this omnipotence of poor human
speech gains its ends—but how futile it is! How shadowy
are thoughts I get from such attempts to master prayer. I fall back
with relief upon the magnitude of this fact of prayer—
“beyond the stars heard” and “answered through the ministry of angels.”

Ordained Servant Online, April, 2025.