Morning, May 24
Go To Evening Reading
“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.”
Psalm 66:20
In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly,
we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There
may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance—as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened
retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps
he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled
as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and
few—far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which
cries, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine,
and not only heard, but answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers, unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the mercy-seat: but when deliverance has
come, where has been thy constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding
thou hast ceased to pray as once thou didst, God has not ceased to
bless. When thou hast neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted
it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between
the wings of the cherubim. Oh! it is marvellous that the Lord should
regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go
with our necessities. What a God is he thus to hear the prayers of
those who come to him when they have pressing wants, but neglect him
when they have received a mercy; who approach him when they are forced
to come, but who almost forget to address him when mercies are plentiful
and sorrows are few. Let his gracious kindness in hearing such prayers
touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”