Morning, October 18
Go To Evening Reading
“Thy paths drop fatness.”
Psalm 65:11
Many are “the paths of the Lord” which “drop fatness,” but an especial one is the path of prayer . No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, “My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me.” Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become
like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in
wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne
of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance;
little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with
many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord.
Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest
saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden
to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you
be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the
way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew
the rain upon famished Israel’s fields.
There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who
walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights
of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth
the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus’ bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and
seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they
enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood.
At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the
priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering.
But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that
palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved
be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou
shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with
thy salvation!