Just as the time of youth is the period when we stand most in need of the evening prayer because the temptations then are the strongest and meet with least resistance on our part, so we need the morning prayer the most at the time of maturity because it then is of particular importance that we ----gain strength To be of use, as God wills, In the very best way we know. This does not mean that there is any time in our lives that we do not need the evening prayer as well as the morning prayer. Indeed, we need both throughout our entire life, for we are always in want of protection against temptations, always in need of gaining increasing joy of living and happiness. Therefore, let us give both a fixed and permanent place in our everyday life and thus try to become "steadfast in prayer." And in that steadfast prayer _the Apostles' Creed_ and _the Lord's Prayer_ must be absorbed as an inseparable part. ZACCHÆUS 1. _To Be Home By Oneself_ "AND, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich." Consequently he must have been a happy man, many would think, for the conditions of happiness are riches and prominent positions. But Zacchæus was no happy man. He may, of course, have experienced a certain degree of delight or happiness while he was so busily occupied in making money and in forging ahead until he reached the very top of the publicans' ladder; now, however, when he had accomplished all that--he was not happy, at all. How could that be? I believe at that time perhaps he _had lived his life outside himself, as it were, and been wholly absorbed by his official duties_. But now that he found time to be home by himself, and to be occupied with the inner world of his soul, he heard in there an accusing voice which told him: _You are a sinful man, Zacchæus!_ And the man who is sinful, is not happy. What should he do? He might devote himself once more to the _mania for gathering wealth_, might thrust himself energetically back into the work. Or he might devote himself to the merry _life of society_--seek pleasures, the remedy which the world offers to those who are afflicted with wounded souls. But in both cases he would once more be forced to live his life outside himself. He did not like that. It would be too much like taking flight from oneself. But there was a third way--_that of the repenting sinner_. He chose that. People referred to him by calling him a _sinful man_, and sighingly he had to admit that the people were right. He understood that now since he was home by himself--O, could but his sin be stricken out! Now there was this Man, Jesus of Nazareth! Wasn't He the same one whom John the Baptist had spoken of as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world? And was not He the same one who had said to a poor fellow sick of the palsy: "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee!" If he might only see Him!