"My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy Word." It is always to the Word of God he turns for reviving and instruction. St. Paul links together the Word of God and Prayer. (Google image, The Word of God)
"And take . . . the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me."
Watching where and whereunto? Watching with all perseverance!
That is surely with diligence and patience, alertness and reverence. We must search the Word, that we may know how to pray.
"God is spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
Aids to Devotion
It must be remembered that I do not judge any man in the method of devotion. I speak only for myself. The practice of private prayer is so difficult to maintain that I grudge no help to those who find aids in things that to me would be a hindrance.
Some find help in symbols and pictures, and most of those who seek to cultivate the prayer life of the soul keep some book of devotion at hand.
Thomas a Kempis, Lancelot Andrewes, William Law, Andrew Murry, and the hymnology of all the churches have been blessed to tens of thousands who have sought to know how to pray.
It may be a confession of shame, but I do not want any of them in the "inner chamber." I can appreciate them, more or less, elsewhere, but not here.
There are two perils to be avoided: one is emotional unreality; and the other is intellectual preoccupation. An earnest believer whose religious enthusiasm found expression service for the Church and humanity was convicted of prayerlessness.
He earnestly resolved to spend half an hour every day in private prayer. At the end of a month he gave it up because he could not endure the sense of unreality.
He could not talk or meditate half an hour every day when there was no one there! There was not only no sense of a Presence, but there was a very real consciousness of an absence.
There can be no experience of heart speech and soul fellowship without a consciousness of a Presence. The soul cannot keep up an emotional make-believe day after day.
The mind cannot live in a vacuum. The Father is in secret, but it is the glory of His Presence that makes the sanctuary. There must be truth as well as spirit in all worship, and nowhere is the combination more necessary than in the secret place of prayer.
Altar fires are kindled and quickened by truth, but the truth must get to the altar. Devotional studies do not necessarily lead to devotion. There may be a preoccupation with truth that becomes an obsession.
The study of experiential truth may never become experience, and the experience of others become a snare. Even the Bible may become a hindrance. Light can blind. Our Lord reproached the religious teachers of His day because their misuse of the Scriptures blinded their minds.
Stepping stones may become slipping stones, and even a cornerstone may be a stumbling block. In all questions of the soul each must find help where he can.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let's pray-
Father, we appreciate Your Word that's provided for us, as it instructs us in our praying. As we confess our seasons of distress, we find Your Word revives us with instructions to look to You for help.
Help us watch with perseverance and with diligence in patience, alertness and reverence, ever searching Your Word, that we may know how to pray.
Your Presence is what makes our sanctuary. May we learn to worship in truth and in spirit in our secret place of prayer.
We see that in all questions of the soul, each person must find help where he can, whether with devotionals, hymnals or directly and simply with Your Word.We ask for Your guidance in what will help each of us be successful in our secret-place praying.
In Christ's name we ask this. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) "For the word of God is
living and powerful, and sharper than any two-
edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul
and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
1 Peter 5:8-9 (MSG) "Be well balanced (temperate,
sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times;
for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like
a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to
seize upon and devour. (v. 9) Withstand him; be firm
in faith [against his onset—rooted, established,
strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that
the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to
your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians)
throughout the world."
sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times;
for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like
a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to
seize upon and devour. (v. 9) Withstand him; be firm
in faith [against his onset—rooted, established,
strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that
the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to
your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians)
throughout the world."
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) "Let us therefore come boldly
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain grace, to
help in time of need."
Today's quote-
~ K. T. Sim- "In Proverbs, the righteous are the wise, and the foolish are the wicked (for example, see 10:1-3). A wise person is one who obeys God and His Word, thus avoiding moral pitfalls and failures. In contrast, a fool is one who says, 'There is no God' (Ps. 14:1). Solomon contrasts the wise and the foolish (Pro. 10-15), comparing their attitudes, actions, and speech.
Proverbs 15 describes the wise person as one who is: discerning (v. 21),
seeks godly counsel (v. 22),
speaks graciously (v. 23).
lives cautiously (v. 24),
is humble (v. 25),
pure (v. 26),
honest (v. 27),
self-controlled (v. 28),
prayerful (v.29),
teachable (vv. 31-32),
and fears God (v. 33).
The foundation for such a godly life is stated at the beginning of Proverbs in 1:7, repeated in 9:10, and reiterated again in 15:33: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom." (Emphasis added)
Today's popular post-
R. A. Torrey: "The great reservoir of the power that belongs to God is His own Word—the Bible. If we wish to make it ours, we must go to that Book.
Yet people abound in the church who are praying for power and neglecting the Bible."
Yet people abound in the church who are praying for power and neglecting the Bible."
Today's question-
How can we express worship?
Creation itself cries out; sing an new song! We can praise God by:
1. Speaking about God: Eph. 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
2. Singing: It's important what we listen to, as it will influence what we say, do and think.
3. Shouting: Ps. 47:1 "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!"
4. Clapping: Ps. 47:1 a "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Ps. 150: 1-6 Tells us to praise the Lord in His sanctuary for His mighty firmament, mighty acts; and excellent greatness! We're to praise Him with the trumpet, lute and harp, timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and flutes, loud cymbals and with high sounding cymbals! "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"
How can we express worship?
Creation itself cries out; sing an new song! We can praise God by:
1. Speaking about God: Eph. 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
2. Singing: It's important what we listen to, as it will influence what we say, do and think.
3. Shouting: Ps. 47:1 "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!"
4. Clapping: Ps. 47:1 a "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Ps. 150: 1-6 Tells us to praise the Lord in His sanctuary for His mighty firmament, mighty acts; and excellent greatness! We're to praise Him with the trumpet, lute and harp, timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and flutes, loud cymbals and with high sounding cymbals! "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!"
5. Joyful noise: Ps. 47:1 b "Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
6. Dancing: Ps. 149:3 "Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp."
7. Bowing: Ps. 5:7 "But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple."
8. Up-lifted hands: Ps. 63:4 "Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name."
9. Free worship: Ps. 96:1 "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth."
10. Giving: 1 Chron. 29:8 "Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD . . . "
Upcoming posts-
#16 The Devotional Use of the Bible
28th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
Have You Ever Been Alone with God?
3/2- Saturday's post by Oswald Chambers
#17 The Praying Method in the World
5th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick
#18 How to Use the Word in Prayer
7th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
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