“Aids to Prayer 
 
 For the Christian People of Worth 
 Fmerica in view of all tbat is 
 involved in the present wat 
 
 The situation occasioned by the Great War presents 
 the largest and most insistent call to intercession which 
 has ever come to the Christian people of America. 
 The highest office of friendship is to help’ our friends 
 in the deepest things of life, and the deepest things of 
 life are those which have to do with preserving a right 
 relation between man and God and between man and 
 man. Among the different ways of helping in the 
 present world crisis, there is none which will compare 
 in vital importance with that of wielding the force of 
 prayer. 
 
 To serve as a reminder of this solemn and pressing 
 duty and privilege, as well as to promote definiteness, 
 intensity and reality in intercession, this prayer cycle 
 has been issued for the use of individuals and groups. 
 
 The cultivation of the habit of reflection on the 
 character, wishes and resources of God will establish 
 confidence in Him, lead to a better understanding of 
 His will, and help to ensure effective prayer. 
 
 “The primary need is that individual Christians 
 should learn to pray. If this work is to be taken 
 seriously, the hour of prayer must be definitely set 
 apart and jealously guarded in spite of weariness and 
 many distractions.” 
 
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Sunday 
 My Own Attitude 
 
 In the light of what is true and with the illumina- 
 tion of God’s Holy Spirit, let me consider with 
 honesty and thoroughness: 
 
 Wherein my own patriotism has been tainted by 
 national glorification, suspicion, illwill, or 
 any manifestation of a selfish or unbrotherly 
 spirit. 
 
 Wherein I have been blinded by tradition or 
 popular opinion to the moral and spiritual 
 evil in warfare. 
 
 Wherein I have failed to exert my influence, 
 however limited, in favor of basing interna- 
 tional relationships upon righteousness and 
 goodwill. 
 
 Wherein I have failed to show the love of Christ 
 in discharging my social, business, and polit- 
 ical responsibilities and in fulfilling my 
 personal obligations to those of other nations 
 and races. 
 
 Let me confess my sins and shortcomings to my 
 merciful Heavenly Father, in whom all men 
 are brothers, and seek His full forgiveness. 
 
 Let me give my life with new obedience and 
 daring faith to praying as my Lord commands: 
 Our Father, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be 
 done on earth as it is in heaven. 
 
 se 
 TRUE PRAYER . . »« HAS NOT ONLY THOUGHT BUT WILL IN IT. 
 + « PRAYER IS NOT A FRAME OF MIND, BUT A GREAT ENERGY.’’ 
 
 of 
 IF YE ABIDE IN ME AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ASK 
 WHATSOEVER YE WILL.’' 
 
Monday 
 
 For International Justice and Goodwill 
 
 That all who mould public opinion or have author- 
 ity in the warring nations may be purged of 
 every evil motive, endowed with clear and 
 balanced minds, given the needed courage and 
 humility to uphold what is right and follow what 
 is true, and be restrained from whatever would 
 hinder the early establishment of a lasting 
 peace. 
 
 That those in positions of influence or power in 
 neutral nations may be given an impartial, un- 
 selfish and righteous attitude towards the nations 
 in mortal combat, and may be alert and wise 
 to seize every opportunity for promoting a new 
 international understanding founded on principles 
 of co-operation and justice. 
 
 That the All-Wise God may so order and dispose 
 the issues of this war as to transcend the evil 
 with good, and unite the nations of the world in 
 a firmer fellowship for the good of all mankind. 
 
 That among all peoples an increasing multitude of 
 earnest souls may meet face to face with God, 
 to fulfill persistently the exacting conditions 
 of effective prayer, so that their faith may 
 prevent otherwise devastating failure, and bring 
 a transforming Gospel to nations in transition. 
 
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 NOTHING GIVES PERSONALITY LIKE TRUE PRAYER. NOTHING 
 
 MAKES MAN SO ORIGINAL .. . IT PLACES A MAN IN DIRECT 
 AND EFFECTIVE CONTACT WITH . . . THE SOURCE OF ORIG- 
 
 INALITY.’* 
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 IF ANY MAN IS {N CHRIST, THERE 1S A NEW CREATION.’’ 
 
Tuesday 
 For Those Who Are Fighting 
 
 That the soldiers and sailors engaged in the present 
 conflict may be kept from yielding to lust, vain- 
 glory, revenge, or other unholy passion, and that 
 in the midst of peril they may be bold through 
 life or death to put their trust in God. 
 
 That the wounded and sick may be given succor 
 and relief and be endued with grace, each ac- 
 cording to his need, and that by the very dis- 
 cipline of suffering they may be taught a fuller 
 Obedience to the loving will of their Heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 That those who are dying may be prepared in heart 
 for higher service in the life eternal and be given 
 unfaltering faith in Him who can lead them 
 safely through the valley of the shadow of death; 
 and that they may be able in quiet confidence 
 to entrust all their loved ones to the tender 
 care of the Good Shepherd, the Divine Comforter, 
 the Heavenly King. 
 
 That those who minister to the physical or spiritual 
 needs of the sick and wounded may manifest 
 more and more of the sympathy, skill and faith- 
 fulness of Christ Himself. 
 
 “iT PASSES COMPREHENSION HOW SOME MEN CAN EXPECT 
 TO BELIEVE IN INTERCESSION AS THE MIGHTIEST FORCE WIELDED 
 ON EARTH, IN VIEW OF WHAT THEY TOLERATE WITHIN THE 
 CHAMBERS OF THEIR IMAGERY, IN THEIR MOTIVE LIFE, IN THEIR 
 ATTITUDE AND SPIRIT TOWARD OTHERS---NOT TO MENTION OUT- 
 BREAKING SINS AND PRACTICES.,'* 
 
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 YE ASK AND RECEIVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK AMIiSS.° 
 
Wednesday 
 For All Affected by the War 
 
 That those who are bound by ties of blood or friend- 
 ship to the men in the fighting forces may cast 
 all their cares upon Jesus Christ, and be brought 
 through the fellowship of His suffering to give 
 themselves with abandon to praying and working 
 for a civilization that shall realize His vision. 
 
 That all who through this war are brought to poverty 
 or hunger may feel the nearness of the Great 
 Burden-bearer, and that those who have the 
 comforts of life may be led in the spirit of Christ 
 to provide effective relief. 
 
 That all who are affected by this war may be 
 aroused to deeper convictions concerning the 
 increasing interdependence of all peoples and 
 the fundamental wisdom of closer co-operation 
 and fellowship. 
 
 That they may realize as never before that through 
 Christ alone can races and nations come into 
 right relations with one another, and may 
 devote themselves to accomplishing His all- 
 sufficient program for the world. 
 
 “Jesus CHRIST ... HAS SET FOR EVERMORE IN HUMAN 
 THOUGHT , . . THE VISION OF A CIVILIZATION IN WHICH EACH 
 MAN IN EVERY NATION SHALL WISH FOR ALL MEN IN ALL NATIONS 
 SUCH A FAIR CHANCE AT ALL GOOD THINGS AS A MAN WOULD 
 LIKE HIS BROTHER TO HAVE,’?’ 
 
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 SAY, OUR FATHER, , » THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH 
 AS iT IS IN HEAVEN,’* 
 
Thursday 
 For Christians Everywhere 
 
 That the hearts of Christian people may be lifted 
 above all tumult and strife to God in His 
 majesty and love, and that through this time 
 of stress the bonds which unite those who are 
 in Christ may be maintained unbroken. 
 
 That in the flerceness of this uprising of brother 
 against brother Christians may not deny their 
 Lord, but may seek more earnestly to reincar- 
 nate His spirit in their daily living. 
 
 That they may therefore be always alert to minister 
 to the needs of others, without regard to 
 nationality, and to obey in every way their 
 Saviour’s new commandment of love. 
 
 That the present experiences may convince Chris- 
 tians everywhere of the sins which make war 
 possible, may impress upon them the wide range 
 of their civic and political responsibilities, and 
 may arouse them to living faith and unremitting 
 labor for the fulfillment in business, in society, 
 and in government of their Master’s purpose. 
 
 That they may be especially eager and wise to lead 
 those who are tempted, perplexed or discouraged 
 to the source of strength, wisdom and hope in 
 Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
 
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 OUR PRAYER MUST NOT BE A VAGUE APPEAL TO HIS MERCY, 
 AN INDEFINITE CRY FOR BLESSING, BUT THE DISTINCT EXPRESSION 
 OF A DEFINITE NEED.'* 
 
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 JESUS SAID, WHAT WILT THOU THAT 1! SHOULD DO UNTO 
 THEE.** 
 
Friday 
 For Christian Work Throughout the World 
 
 That non-Christian peoples may be able to distin- 
 guish between certain motives which lead to war 
 and the unselfish purpose of the Prince of Peace, 
 and, by the very tragedy of what is at variance 
 with His will, may be impelled to seek first His 
 Kingdom and His righteousness. 
 
 That the apparent success of war, which tends 
 to increase materialism and infidelity, may 
 be so justly estimated as to constrain men to 
 forsake their blind worship of mere force, how- 
 ever disguised, and to put their real reliance 
 upon those spiritual forces on which Jesus Christ 
 would have all men depend. 
 
 That all missionaries and Christian workers may 
 be granted, in this time of anxiety and suffer- 
 ing, an unfaltering faith in God and in His all- 
 embracing plan, and may sanctify themselves 
 anew for Christ-like service in the difficulties 
 and opportunities which challenge their faith. 
 
 That the leaders of the Church, both ministers and 
 laymen, by the utter extremity of the world’s 
 need and of human insufficiency, may be brought 
 to a fuller understanding of their Father’s will, 
 and in unity of faith may lead His Church to 
 make available the unused wealth of His ex- 
 haustless resources. 
 
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 WHEN THE CHURCH SETS ITSELF TO PRAY WITH THE SAME 
 SERIOUSNESS AND STRENGTH OF PURPOSE THAT IT HAS DEVOTED 
 TO OTHER FORMS OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT, IT WILL SEE THE 
 KINGDOM OF GOD COME WITH POWER.’’ 
 “ 
 
 THE SUPPLICATION OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH 
 N ITS WORKING,’ 
 
Saturday 
 For the Missionary Spirit 
 
 That by the self-sacrificing loyalty of millions to 
 their country, Christian people everywhere may 
 be inspired with complete devotion to undertake 
 the spiritual conquest of the world for Christ, and 
 to win, wherever the advance of His Kingdom 
 falters, the victories that wait for reinforcements. 
 
 That those who are fitted in mind and heart for 
 Christian leadership may be preserved amid the 
 perils of war and disciplined by its hardships 
 for a more faithful and effective service in the 
 cause of Christ. 
 
 That schools, colleges and universities may be 
 cleansed of all that is contrary to faith and 
 morals, and may inculcate in their students those 
 Christian principles on which the only enduring 
 civilizations of the future must be built. 
 
 That the officers and members of all churches and 
 Christian organizations may so exert their 
 influence in prayer and personal dealing and 
 so manifest the spirit of their Master in the 
 present crisis as to lead many others also to 
 dedicate their lives to the establishment of His 
 Kingdom of brotherly love. 
 
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 PRAYER IS FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE WHAT ORIGINAL RESEARCH 
 iS FOR SCIENCE---BY IT WE GET DIRECT CONTACT WITH REALITY.** 
 ef 
 
 ASK . . . SEEK . . . KNOCK," 
 
 Copies of this leaflet may be had at twenty cents 
 per dozen, or $1.00 per hundred, postpaid, from The 
 Missionary Education Movement, 156 Fifth Avenue, 
 New York;—also ‘‘Intercessors, the Primary Need,” 
 by Dr. John R. Mott (eighty cents per dozen, $5.00 
 per hundred), and “Can Prayer Accomplish Anything 
 Apart from the Man Who Prays,” by Dean E. I. 
 Bosworth (twenty-five cents per dozen).