October
10, 2005
Seek
The Lord And His Strength
"Seek
the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!" (1)
When
Jesus was on earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He
taught them to present their daily needs to God, and to cast
all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that
their prayers would be heard and answered is assurance also
for us.
"And
when you pray,-- go into your room, and when you have shut
your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
(2) Jesus had special places for communion with God, and so
should we.
"In
the secret place of prayer, where no eye but God's can see,
no ear but His can hear, we may pour out our most hidden desires
and longings to the Father of infinite pity, and in the hush
and silence of the soul that voice which never fails to answer
the cry of human need will speak to our hearts...
"As
we make Christ our daily companion we shall feel that the
powers of an unseen world are all around us; and by looking
unto Jesus we shall become assimilated to His image. By beholding
we become changed. The character is softened, refined, and
ennobled for the heavenly kingdom. The sure result of our
intercourse and fellowship with our Lord will be to increase
piety, purity, and fervor. There will be a growing intelligence
in prayer. We are receiving a divine education, and this is
illustrated in a life of diligence and zeal.
"The
soul that turns to God for its help, its support, its power,
by daily, earnest prayer, will have noble aspirations, clear
perceptions of truth and duty, lofty purposes of action, and
a continual hungering and thirsting after righteousness. By
maintaining a connection with God, we shall be enabled to
diffuse to others, through our association with them, the
light, the peace, the serenity, that rule in our hearts. The
strength acquired in prayer to God, united with persevering
effort in training the mind in thoughtfulness and care-taking,
prepares one for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace
under all circumstances." (3)
His presence
and peace is nurtured by daily prayer.
1. 1
Chronicles 16:11.
2. Matthew 6:5, 6.
3. God's Amazing Grace, p. 290.
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