Day 6: Yes, and amen
For all the promises of God in [Jesus] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20 - NKJV).
O Lord, by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us now to pray.
Why, the wonder is not that we pray so little, but that we can ever get up from our knees if we truly realize our own need; the needs of our home and our loved ones; the needs of our pastor and the Church; the needs of our city, of our country, of the [godless, the despairing, the hopeless, and the lost].
All these needs can be met by the riches of God in Christ Jesus. Paul had no doubt about this—nor have we. Yes! “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). But to share His riches we must pray, “for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Romans 10:12).
So great is the importance of prayer that God has taken care to anticipate all the excuses or objections we may be likely to make. People plead their weakness or infirmity, or they declare they do not know how to pray.
God foresaw this inability long ages ago. Did He not inspire Paul to say: “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
Yes, every provision is made for us. But only the Holy Spirit can stir us up to “take hold of” God. And if we will but yield ourselves to the Spirit’s promptings, we shall most assuredly follow the example of the apostles of old, who gave themselves to prayer (Acts 6:4), and “continued steadfastly in prayer” (Acts 1:14).
We may rest fully assured of this: a man’s influence in the world can be gauged not by his eloquence, or his zeal, or his orthodox, or his energy, but by his prayers. Yes, and we will go farther and maintain that no man can live aright who does not pray aright.
~ Albert E. Richardson ~ The Kneeling Christian
Almost Incredible Promises/God's Great Desire
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