The Fourth Smooth Stone – Prayer
“The fourth stone that David picked up may represent prayer. As David went to meet Goliath he had a prayer in his heart. Let’s read verse 45:
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
What a great example of faith, obedience, service and prayer! Every day you and I face different Goliaths, the enemy of God who challenge us and test us. Without the smooth stone of prayer each day, those Goliaths will wear us down and defeat us. I have a strong testimony of prayer and of the power of God through prayer. Listen to what President Hinckley said about the smooth stone of prayer. In addressing the youth in November he gives his last of the six “B’s” as:
“… be prayerful. You cannot do it alone…. You know that He is the source of all wisdom. You need His help, and you know that you need His help. You cannot do it alone. You will come to realize that and recognize that more and more as the years pass. So live in good conscience you can speak with the Lord. Get on your knees and thank Him for His goodness to you and express to Him the righteous desires of your hearts. The miracle of it all is that He hears. He responds. He answers – not always as we might wish He would answer, but there is no question in my mind that He answers….” (First Presidency Message A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth, January 2001 The Ensign, 2).“
“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror, yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” (Author unknown)