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



No One to Speak for Me

"And He [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world
and preach and publish openly the good news (the
Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]."1

I vividly recall how, when visiting the Holocaust
Museum in Washington, DC--a profoundly sobering
experience--how deeply I was moved when reading the
words credited by some (but disputed by others) to
Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

The plan to kill Jews today may be even more
destructive than in the Holocaust. I say this because
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has expressed
doubt that the Holocaust ever happened.2 He has also
declared openly that he wants Israel wiped off the
map, and it appears that in the not too distant future
he will have nuclear weapons--a frightening thought as
an ever increasing number of extremist Muslims are
determined to kill not only Jews, but Christians,
Americans and other Westerners, and pretty much all
who refuse to convert to their evil form of radical
religion. Their barbaric philosophy is "convert or
have your head cut off."

We Christians know that the only hope of the world is
the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, but what will we
Christians do about it? Will we again remain silent as
so many did for so long during Hitler's reign of
terror? I was also horrified to learn that we Western
countries refused to allow Jews to immigrate to our
countries even when we knew what Hitler was doing.
Consequently, six million Jews were sent to the death
chambers.

According to a recent survey of Christians in America
by the highly respected Barna Group, only 29% of
Christians see the need to explain their faith with
non-believers--which is down from 39% a year ago.3

Perhaps more than ever we need to take seriously
Christ's last commission to his disciples to "go into
all the world and preach the gospel to everyone
everywhere." Never before has this been as possible as
it is today.

May every one of us ask God daily to use us to be an
effective witness for Jesus.

Also, please go to www.actsweb.org/announce.php for a
very simple and non-threatening way to share God's
love and message of salvation with family, friends,
and contacts. And please support in prayer and
finances organizations that are actively involved in
reaching people with the gospel message of Jesus
Christ.

Suggested prayer:

"Dear God, I'm available. Please use
me to be an effective witness for you and do all that I
can to help spread the gospel around the world. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen."

"ACTS Daily Encounter" - Nov 18/07

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