Prayer is not merely a matter of the mind, but also a matter of emotion. We offer to Him both "heart and reins." To the Hebrew, the former was the seat of intellect; the latter, the seat of feeling or emotion. The reins are the kidneys which perform a vital function for the body, separating the poison from that which can nourish and build up. When emotion is governed by intellect it will do likewise. Hence, in the sacrifices under the law, the kidneys were included in the burnt-offering. This signified that the emotions were given up to the Lord.

If we really recognise God as our Father, we should approach Him with such personal intimate love. As a Father, He demands our affection and respect, and this will be shown by our attitude towards His word. We will deem that Word our great delight, and will attempt to put it into practise. The command of the Law was: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" (Mark 12:30). This is an all-embracing love, that will find reflection in obedience.

What is the greatest attribute that a parent desires in his child? Is it not love? An obedient-loveless child gives little pleasure to its parent; but a warm-hearted, loving child will provide great joy, even though, through weakness of the flesh, it is not always obedient. Whilst a wise parent will discipline any child that is not obedient, he will more readily extend forgiveness to one that reflects filial love, than to one who is cold-hearted and indifferent to all that a parent has done on its behalf.

Let us recognise all that God has done for us. Let us view Him as a loving Father, interested in our welfare. And let us respond back in affectionate regard for God in view of the manifold blessings He has poured out upon us. If we count our blessings, prayer will become a channel of thanksgiving and devotion towards the Father in heaven. We will be more conscious of all that He has done on our behalf, and will respond the more readily.

Isaiah described prayer as "stirring up oneself to take hold" of the Lord (Isa. 64:7). These words define something more than mere prayer: they set forth the reaction of effectual, fervent prayer (James 5:16) on the part of one who fully realises the needs of a situation. For one to "stir up himself to take hold of God" expresses an urgent need of one in deadly earnest, so that the arms, hands, very fingers reach out to lay hold upon God. Fervent prayers with the mind concentrated upon the matter in hand and everything else excluded, can draw us into the very presence of God (cp. Col. 3:1).

God invites us to do this. "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with Me" (Isa. 27:5). Such was His appeal to Israel through the prophet. And consider the beautiful appeal of Isaiah 50:10: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no life? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."

Has your life ever been dark before you? Has the way been dreary, so that problems have arisen as a flood to destroy you, and there seems no way out? Perhaps God is behind all this, to teach you the lesson of this verse; to give you the opportunity of manifesting faith before Him. In such circumstances, let us "stir up ourselves to take hold of Him. He has declared: "You shall seek Me and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord" (Jer. 29:13).

It demands a seeking and a searching, but such will surely result in a finding, for, as Paul reminds us, "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb. 13:5-6).

Let us blend intellect and feeling in our approaches to God; taking hold of Him through prayer when the night is dark about us, and the future seems devoid of hope. Perhaps those very circumstances are designed of Him to teach us the power of faith and of prayer, that we may more earnestly raise our voices in thankfulness and praise unto Him.