MAY DAY, MAYDAY, MAY DAY!!! (by Jerry Ogles)

 

This phrase is one of the most commonly of all used in air, sea, and land. It means we have an urgent emergency. It means we have a problem that needs addressing with immediate dispatch. Having flown military aircraft for more than thirty years, I have had occasion to use this phrase several times over land, and once over the Sea of Japan. It was used by many airmen of the past and even by the radioman of the great RMS Titanic after striking an iceberg in the cold North Atlantic waters.

 

Please note its simplicity. It is short and easily understood by the one to whom it is addressed. That is precisely what a prayer should be. It is not an expression to be embellished either with haughty words or grand oratory. Perhaps the simplest and shortest prayer of the Holy Bible received an immediate and complete answer: “Lord Save Me!”   “And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:29-30

 

This old world, and even our own nation, founded on Christian principles, badly needs to utter a May Day call to our Father in Heaven, “Lord, save Me!”  

This is not intended as a communal prayer, though it could be as well; but it is always, at least, a personal prayer of immediate and profound importance addressed to God petitioning for salvation - for whom? For ME! Let us follow the example for prayer given by our Lord Jesus Christ “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:6-8 

Our Lord then gives us a model prayer which seeks little more than our daily bread, but praises our Father in Heaven chiefly.

We, too, are in dire danger of perishing - both individually and as a nation lest we have appealed to Heaven by means of our MAY DAY prayer.

 DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

May 1. Secret Prayer

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.." Matthew 6:5-6

One of the most important things we ever do in this world, is to pray. No business transacted anywhere, so deeply touches the interests of our lives. We ought therefore to learn to pray aright — so as to be sure of answer. We ought to be eager to get every smallest fragment of instruction about prayer.

In our verses for today, we have one of our Lord's plainest and most significant instructions about the manner and the nature of prayer. He is speaking, not of public prayer — as when the minister leads the congregation; but of personal prayer — when the child of God wants to talk to his Father about his own affairs — and lay his own individual burdens at His feet. We should seek to be alone in all such praying. Other presences disturb our thoughts and restrict our freedom. So, we are to go into our closet and shut the door!

This shutting of the door is significant in several ways. It shuts out the world. It secures us against interruption. It ought to shut out worldly thoughts and cares and distractions, as well as worldly presences. Wandering in prayer — is usually one of our sorest troubles.

Then, it shuts us in, and this also is important and significant. It shuts us in — alone with God. No eye but His sees us — as we bow in the secrecy. No ear but His hears us — as we pour out our heart's feelings and desires. Thus we are helped to realize that we have to do with God alone — that He alone can help us!

So we are shut up alone with God, so also are we shut up to God. There is precious comfort in the assurance that when we thus pray — we are not talking into the air. There is an ear to hear, though we can see no presence, and it is the ear of Heavenly our Father! This assures us of loving regard in Heaven, also of prompt and gracious answers to our sincere prayers.