Can You Pray?

Can You Pray?

Many years ago, Doctor R., a well educated man, lived in Berlin. He did not believe in God, but desired to learn whether other people really knew something about a God. So one day, he looked up a preacher that had been described to him as a godly man. The two men spoke awhile with each other and then the preacher prayed. "Doctor“, he then said, "now you pray too!“ The doctor tried to pray, but was unable to. The preacher looked up astonished and said: "How strange: A small child can do what the great and well-learned Doctor R. cannot manage.“

The doctor returned home from his visit in great thought. On the way, he met a little schoolgirl. It crossed his mind: "Is it true that even a small child can pray?“ He walked up to the child and directly asked: "Can you pray?“ The little girl seemed to be visibly shocked at this unexpected question. She had never before been approached like this in the street, but she still answered with a clear "Yes“. "Then pray now“, commanded the doctor and the child trustingly said a short prayer to the Lord Jesus.

Doctor R listened and then continued on his way, more serious than ever. Not long after this, he also learned how to pray, for the prayer of the little school girl had led him into deep thought. He repented before God and became a faithful servant of God. Several years later, he went to India as a missionary. He devoted himself to the lepers and outcasts. When friends reproached him for working too much, he always replied: "I denied the Most High long enough, now I must serve the most insignificant.“