Morning, January 2
Go To Evening Reading
“Continue in prayer.”
Colossians 4:2
It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is
occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples,
enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the
Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;” and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful.
Here we find a wrestling Jacob—there a Daniel who prayed three times a day—and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain
we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of
commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the
sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that
whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous
in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows
we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we
are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? Then,
I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of
God? Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.
Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting
believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus.
It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour
of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and
patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into
the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example
and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory
of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”