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
"It will be the same when the Son of Man comes again as it
was when Noah lived. In the time of Noah, people were eating,
drinking, and getting married even on the day when Noah
entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed all the
people."
-- Luke 17:26-27 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Noah's character went totally unappreciated by his contemporaries. They
ignored Noah's warnings about God's impending judgment and their need
to repent. They went on doing what they had always done, even as the
rain started to fall. When Jesus returns in his glory, those who have
lived for him will be waiting in expectation for his return and be
overjoyed. However, those who have ignored his call to follow him and
who have spurned his grace will be caught off guard just as much as
those in Noah's day. It's sad. It's tragic. Let's try to make a
difference in as many of those lives as we can!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, I know Jesus will come with glory. I know that his return will
catch many off guard. Please use me to help those around me to be
prepared and full of joy at the return of Jesus, in whose name I pray.
Amen
“Heartlight” - Oct 13/07
