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



Forgiveness

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV).

A Word From Billy Graham

"Oh, the depth of God's Grace! Oh, the height of God's mercy, the breadth of God's love, that He is willing to say to you and to me, 'I forgive you. You will never have to face the judgment!' When that gets through to you, you can go to bed and sleep a new kind of sleep. You will say to yourself, 'I don't deserve this kind of release. Surely I will have to face the music sometime.' The full penalty has been paid. The Judge will never say, 'I pronounce sentence on you,' because Christ has accepted that sentence for you. In Christ you are free. Accept it by faith and go your way rejoicing. When you know the truth, the truth shall make you free. How wonderful! Sin is no longer in the throne room of my life. Christ sits there, and as I daily, moment by moment, yield my members to Him, He orders my life. Satan no longer has the power over my life that he once had. Sin is no longer in command. Oh, to be sure, I slip and fall, but Christ is there to pick me up and to put His arm around me and to love me."

Forgiveness Sets Us Free

"Forgiveness is more than leaving behind sin and its penalty. Forgiveness frees us to serve God, to relate to Him and to engage in the activities that He gives us the privilege to do with Him. To come to Jesus, seeking from God the forgiveness that Jesus has the authority to bestow, is to gain release from that which limits our ability to be what God created us to be. God longs to forgive us. If we do not know Him, we may come to Him seeking forgiveness. We may trust Him to give us release. He will do it; He has promised that He will. That is why He sent His Son to die in our place, to pay the penalty for our sin and to set the stage for our forgiveness. What more could God have done to show how much He wants us to turn to Him? Jesus showed that forgiveness from Him is available for the asking. Let us ask for that forgiveness and rejoice in getting to know our gracious Forgiver" (Darrell L. Bock).

Prayer

Father, help us to find forgiveness in You. Teach us to live in the freedom that Your forgiveness provides us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.


"Decision" magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional
Tuesday, October 30, 2007

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