The necessity of daily prayer
and when you have shut your door, pray to
your FATHER who is in the secret place;
and your FATHER who sees in secret, will
reward you openly." Matthew 6:6
In the Christian's devotional life, prayer has
an essential place. The godly men of the Bible
were all men of prayer. JESUS, who showed
us in HIMSELF the ideal Christian life--
had regular habits of prayer.
He who would live the Christian life well,
must regularly commune with GOD!
It is important, however, that we understand
clearly what it is to pray. It is not enough that
at stated times we go over certain forms
of prayer. We only pray, when we speak
to GOD what is in our heart as a desire,
a longing, or a burden.
JESUS teaches that we are to pray to GOD
as our FATHER. We must come to HIM,
therefore, as HIS redeemed children--
with the genuineness, the simplicity,
the confidence of children.
When we stand at GOD'S throne of
grace and speak the name "FATHER"
and ask for a child's blessing--
we are sure of instant welcome.
Many people think of prayer only as
coming to GOD with requests. They only
tell HIM their needs. They never bow
before HIM nor speak to HIM, unless
there is something they wish HIM
to do for them.
What would you think of a friend of yours
who never came to you nor talked with you,
except when he wanted to ask some
favor of you? True friendship finds
many of its sweetest moments,
when there is no help to ask--
but when only love's communion
fills the happy time. It should be so
in our relation with our heavenly FATHER.
If we care to be with HIM only when
we have a favor to ask of HIM--
then there is something lacking in our love!
We are not to suppose that when JESUS
spent whole nights in prayer, HE was
making requests all the time. HE went
away from the trying, struggling,
troublesome life of the busy
days among the people--
to find shelter, rest, and
renewal of strength, in sweet
converse with HIS FATHER.
Just so, most of the time we
spend in prayer should be given
to communion with GOD.
A minister relates that one Saturday
morning, when he was in his study
preparing his sermon, his little child
opened the door and came in,
stealing softly to his side.
Somewhat impatiently, the father
turned to her and asked,
"What do you want, my child?"
"Nothing, papa," the child replied.
"I only want to be with you."
"I only want to be with you."
This is oft-times the only desire
of the true Christian when he comes
to pray. He has no requests to make--
he just wants to be with his FATHER!
The most profitable season of devotion,
is that in which there is also meditation
upon GOD'S WORD.
It is related of a godly Christian who
was known to spend much time in his
prayer-closet, that a friend once secreted
himself in his study to learn something
of his devotional habit. The godly man
was busy all the evening at his work.
At eleven o'clock he put away his books
and pen and opened his New Testament.
For a whole hour he bent over its pages,
reading, comparing, pondering the sacred
words. Sometimes he would linger long over
a sweet verse and his heart would glow with
rapture. When the clock struck twelve, he
closed the book and sought his bed.
is that in which there is also meditation
upon GOD'S WORD.
It is related of a godly Christian who
was known to spend much time in his
prayer-closet, that a friend once secreted
himself in his study to learn something
of his devotional habit. The godly man
was busy all the evening at his work.
At eleven o'clock he put away his books
and pen and opened his New Testament.
For a whole hour he bent over its pages,
reading, comparing, pondering the sacred
words. Sometimes he would linger long over
a sweet verse and his heart would glow with
rapture. When the clock struck twelve, he
closed the book and sought his bed.
He was not once on his knees during all
the hour. He offered no petition in words.
He had spent the whole time in communing
with GOD in HIS WORD, breathing out his
love, his adoration, his longings and desires--
and receiving into his heart the assurances,
the encouragements, the promises,
the joys of the FATHER'S love.
There could be no better way
of devotion than this!
Praying alone, without meditation on
the WORD of GOD, meets only one
phase of our need. We talk to GOD
when we pray. But it is quite as
important that GOD talks to us--
and HE will only talk with us, when we
open the Scriptures and wait reverently
to hear what HE will say to us.
What is the HELP that we are
to receive from prayer?
First of all, prayer holds us close
to CHRIST. We breathe Heaven's air
when we commune with CHRIST.
Life in this sinful world is not easy.
It has its struggles, its duties, its
difficulties, and its sorrows--
which exhaust our strength.
Hence we need continually to return
to CHRIST to have our grace renewed.
We cannot live today, on yesterday's
food; every morning we must pray for
our daily bread. Nor can we be faithful,
strong, happy and helpful Christians today--
on yesterday's supply of grace.
We need to pray daily. Thus our life
is kept from running down, and we are
held near our MASTER all the while.
The true Christian life also grows--
and it can only do so by daily communing
with GOD. Our life should never run two days
on just the same level. The days should be
ladder rungs lifting our heart ever a little
higher, nearer to GOD, into purer air, into
loftier experiences, into holier consecration.
Prayer brings GOD down into our life.
It was when JESUS was praying, that
HE was transfigured. True prayer
always transfigures!
One who lives habitually with CHRIST,
becomes like CHRIST. Our earthly affairs
become means of grace, if CHRIST is with us.
Prayer lifts all the experiences of our life
and lays them in the hand of CHRIST--
who makes them all work together
for our eternal good!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has just published J.R. Miller's very helpful and instructive book,
"Living Victoriously!"
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