Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8.
We must be much in prayer if we would make progress in the divine life. When the message of truth was first proclaimed, how much we prayed. How often was the voice of intercession heard in the chamber, in the barn, in the orchard, or the grove. Frequently we spent hours in earnest prayer, two or three together claiming the promise; often the sound of weeping was heard and then the voice of thanksgiving and the song of praise. Now the day of God is nearer than when we first believed, and we should be more earnest, more zealous, and fervent than in those early days. Our perils are greater now than then.
It was in hours of solitary prayer that Jesus in His earth-life received wisdom and power. Let the youth follow His example in finding at dawn and twilight a quiet season for communion with their Father in heaven. And throughout the day let them lift up their hearts to God. At every step of our way He says, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand; . . . fear not; I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:13. Could our children learn this lesson in the morning of their years, what freshness and power, what joy and sweetness, would be brought into their lives!
Let your heart break for the longing it has for God, for the living God. The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive. With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, claim for yourself all that God has promised.
Let the glorious conceptions of God possess your mind. Let your life be knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness is willing to shine in your heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will take the things of God and show them unto you. . . . Christ will lead you to the threshold of the Infinite. You may behold the glory beyond the veil, and reveal to men the sufficiency of Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us.
Maranatha p. 86
“““““““““““““““““““
Prayer Requests
—– An update on Rosi…She was sent home and taken off bedrest but is to really take it easy. All her tests are coming back in the “ok” level even though she’s feeling crummy. We were so worried about preeclampsia. She has another few weeks til her due date so the drs are wanting to wait as long as possible without compromising her health. Thank you so much for your prayers. They are so appreciated by all of us!!! Debbie
—– Please pray for Otto. He was taken to the hospital this morning they think he had a stroke they are still running tests on him all day. M.
—–Please pray for my unspoken request. God knows what it is. MJ
“““““““““““““““““““““`
Dear Friends,
When I was ten, my mother, my step-father, and I often went for a drive in the country. Sometimes, I really enjoyed these outings, but other times my step-father was unpleasant and made things miserable. On one such occasion, I had become so distraught over the miserable time I was having, that I was not paying much attention to what I was doing. When I got out of the car, I slammed the door hard in anger and frustration. Unfortunately, my right thumb was in the way. Worse yet, it was right in the latch. Oh! How that hurt! I nearly fainted from the pain.
It hurt so much that I did not even think of opening the door. My step-father saw what had happened and yanked open the door (which was stuck because of my thumb). Cars were much larger and heavier in the 1950’s, so my thumb was a real mess. He told me to go into a nearby drugstore and have the pharmacist could care for it. (In those far-off days, pharmacists not only filled prescriptions, they also administered first aid.) As soon as the pharmacist saw me walk through the door, he knew something was wrong. When he saw my poor thumb, he cleansed it, put some ointment on it, bandaged it, and sent me on my way.
It took a long time for that thumb to heal, but eventually it did. When my thumbnail finally grew back in, it had a heavy line running through it. The nail on one side of the line has never grown quite right, although most of my thumbnail was completely normal. Over the years, the ridge has thinned out somewhat, yet it still doesn’t grow as it should.
Just as it is a constant reminder of that far-off day, so every sin that we have committed leaves its scar upon us. When we sin, we are never quite the same again. We become weaker and weaker until the “whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5,6
Praise God, we do not have to stay in that condition! We can find forgiveness in Jesus Christ our Lord! We can receive forgiveness in the One Who is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Ex 34:6 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps 103:10-14
When we pray as did David, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. . . . Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Ps 51:1-13; 1 John 1:9
Even though forgiven our iniquity, still there are scars. There are consequences that often last the rest of our life. We are never quite the same again. Sin weakens us making it easier to sin the next time. How important it is, then, to flee from even the first suggestion of the enemy. James tells us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Peter adds, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8,9
Let us be diligent to resist the evil one through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Heb 12:1-4
Rose