The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God's warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvelous loving kindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!
“Heartlight” - Oct 11/07
"But first, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be
killed by the people of this time."
Luke 17:25 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Before Jesus can reign as King, he must first suffer and be rejected!
Jesus' glory will come after the Cross. Our deliverance comes only at
the cost of Jesus' rejection. Our salvation depends upon Jesus'
sacrificial suffering. We are saved, we are made a part of God's
eternal Kingdom, and we are given glory at a terribly high price. Yet
Jesus willingly pays that price for us and redeems us from sin and
death! Jesus suffers first. Jesus is rejected first. Jesus dies first.
Jesus loves first. Only then does God come and ask us to bow before him
and confess him as Lord.
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for going first. Thank you for not waiting until I
honored you to sacrifice for me. I realize that my love for you, my
submission to you, and my sacrifices for you come only after you have
given me everything. Please accept my love, submission, and sacrifices
even though they are but a poor reflection of what you have already
done for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
“Heartlight” - Oct 12/07
