of more special interest or urgency than another we are
free for a time day after day to take up that subject. If only time be
really given to intercession, and the spirit of believing intercession
be cultivated, the object is attained. While, on the one hand, the heart
must be enlarged at times to take in all, the more pointed and definite
our prayer can be the better. With this view paper is left blank in
which we can write down special petitions we desire to urge before God.

=3. Answers to Prayer.=--More than one little book has been published in
which Christians may keep a register of their petitions, and note when
they were answered. Room has been left on every page for this, so that
more definite petitions with regard to individual souls or special
spheres of work may be recorded, and the answer looked for. When we pray
for all saints, or for missions in general, it is difficult to know when
or how our prayer is answered, or whether our prayer has had any part in
bringing the answer. It is of extreme importance that we should prove
that God hears us, and to this end take note of what answers we look
for, and when they come. On the day of praying for all saints, take the
saints in your congregation, or in your prayer-meeting, and ask for a
revival among them. Take, in connection with missions, some special
station or missionary you are interested in, or more than one, and plead
for blessing. And expect and look for its coming, that you may praise
God.

=4. Prayer Circles.=--There is no desire in publishing this invitation
to intercession to add another to the many existing prayer unions or
praying bands. The first object is to stir the many Christians who
practically, through ignorance of their calling, or unbelief as to their
prayer availing much, take but very little part in the work of
intercession; and then to help those who do pray to some fuller
apprehension of the greatness of the work, and the need of giving their
whole strength to it. There is a circle of prayer which asks for prayer
on the first day of every month for the fuller manifestation of the
power of the Holy Spirit throughout the Church. I have given the words
of that invitation as subject for the first day, and taken the same
thought as keynote all through. The more one thinks of the need and the
promise, and the greatness of the obstacles to be overcome in prayer,
the more one feels it must become our life-work day by day, that to
which every