Okay. We have two things to do. One is to talk about prayer in a more focused way, and then to talk about fasting. We've spent a lot of time on the Word and its function in mediating the presence of God and the experience of God. And now we want to talk more about our response, our part, our talking,

not just God's talking toward us, saying, I chose you, you're holy, I love you.

You should hear God in that.

But now, what do we do?

What do we say back?

What is prayer?

Westminster Shorter Catechism. Question 98. There's a great story behind this. Some of you remembered. I've told it before. We're Moody, D.L. Moody, 150 years ago or whenever,

came to Scotland, and he was asked as part of his crusade

to go to a day school where there were a chapel full of hundreds of little boys and girls.

I forget what age, grade school age.

And he said, I'm going to talk to you today about prayer what is prayer he asked the

question rhetorically what is prayer and by a thousand hands went up he he didn't know see he

called on one little boy.

And the little boy, by memory, said,

prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will in the name of Christ with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.

And sat down.

And Moody was so stunned, he said, thank God's son that you were born in Scotland,

meaning a place where they believe in the catechism.

I don't know how you're doing.

I edited a catechism one time and have been hit and miss and using it with my own children

because in our hectic lives it's not easy, but I really commend it to you, and I hope I do better with Talitha,

my old five-year-old coming along to teach answers to questions.

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