Daily Affirmations - Day 6 - Take Up Your Positions - Pray and Watch
Day 6: Pray and watch
Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night (Nehemiah 4:9).
[Nehemiah's prayer] was a prayer that overcame difficulties. The text begins with a long word, “nevertheless.” If we pull it to pieces, we got three words, never the less; when certain things happen, we will pray never the less; on the contrary, we will cry to our God all the more.
Sanballat sneered (Nehemiah 4:1-2); but we prayed never the less, but all the more because of his sneers. Tobiah uttered a cutting jest (Nehemiah 4:3); but we prayed never the less, but all the more because of his mocking taunt...
What are your difficulties, dear friend, in coming to the mercy-seat? What hindrance lies in your way? Pray none the less; never the less, not a word less, not a syllable less, not a desire less, and not any faith less.
Let nothing obstruct your approach to the throne of grace. Turn all stumbling-stones into stepping-stones; and come, with holy boldness, and say, notwithstanding all opposition, “never the less, we made our prayer unto our God.”
Notice... that it was a prayer that came before anything else. It does not say that Nehemiah set a watch, and then prayed; but “nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch.” Prayer must always be the [primary action].
Do whatever else is wise, but not till you have prayed. Send for the doctor if you are sick; but first pray. Take the medicine if you believe it will do you good; but first pray. Go and talk with the [person] who has slandered you if you think you ought to do so; but first pray.
“Well, I am going to do so and so,” says someone, “and I shall pray for a blessing on it afterwards.” Do not begin it till you have prayed. Begin, continue, and end everything with prayer; but especially begin with prayer.
~ C.H. Spurgeon, The Two Guards, Praying and Watching, (slightly edited)
Dangerous is the path we go,
In this wilderness below,
Savage beasts, of every kind,
Aiming to distress the mind.
Scarce an hour but pilgrims see
They from danger are not free;
In some unexpected way,
Something fills them with dismay.
Thus beset, they daily feel
They have neither strength nor skill
Rightly to oppose the foe,
Or to guard against the woe.
How, then, can they persevere?
Must they of the prize despair?
No; ’tis theirs to watch and pray,
For the Lord will guard the way.
Christ the Master, Lord of all,
Bids His children watch and call;
May it be our blessed case,
Both to watch and seek His face.
When we watch, then may we pray,
And in prayer watch every day;
And with pleasure ever prove
All our strength is from above.
Thus supported, we shall be
More than conquerors, Lord, through Thee;
And when every danger’s past,
Live and reign with thee at last.
~ W. Gadsby, 1844
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