Deal First With God || Further Notes on Prayer

"What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear.

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer."

- Joseph Scriven

I recently wrote a post on how prayer should be our first resort, and the passage from my morning devotions today seemed to fit so well with that post that I decided to share it with you all.

Deal First With God

 

"It is modern man's habit to speak much of his troubles (which he generally

calls problems). Endless time and energy are expended on 'sharing' when

prayer is really what is needed. Hannah's strength lay in her habit of taking

things first to God. In her grief over her childlessness she wept and could

not eat, but when Elkanah asked what her trouble was there is no record of

her telling him. He guessed it, as a loving and understanding husband may,

but Hannah stood before the Lord and prayed to Him, weeping bitterly.

Eli the priest saw her lips moving in silent prayer and took her for a drunk.

She explained that she was pouring out her heart before the Lord --

but she did not say why. She did not think it necessary to pour her heart

out to the priest. Nor did he inquire. He simply asked God to answer her.

 

"The lessons of prayer are deep. We will not learn them until we form the

habit of dealing first directly with God. Usually we will find we need not

bother husbands, priests, or other busy people who have burdens to bear.

We will be free to bear others' burdens, which we are commanded to do.

We are also told to bear our own. Nowhere are we told to lay our burdens

on others, or to oblige them to bear ours."

 

- Elisabeth Elliot, The Music of His Promises

He Hideth My Soul

"I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand"
- Exodus 33:22

A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,

A wonderful Saviour to me;

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life with the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

 

 

A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,

He taketh my burden away;

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,

He giveth me strength as my day.

 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life with the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

 

 

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,

And filled with His fullness divine,

I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God

For such a Redeemer as mine!

 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life with the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

 

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise

To meet Him in clouds of the sky,

His perfect salvation, His wonderful love

I'll shout with the millions on high.

 

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life with the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.



Quietness of Heart

"Sit still, my daughter. -- Take heed and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted --

Be still, and know that I am God -- Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe,

thou shouldest see the glory of God? -- The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,

and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be

exalted in that day. -- Mary...sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. Mary hath chosen

that good part, which shall not be taken away from her -- In returning and rest shall ye

be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength -- Commune with your

own heart upon your bed, and be still. -- Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him:

fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who

bringeth wicked devices to pass. -- He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed,

trusting in the LORD. His heart is established. -- He that believeth shall not make haste."

 

Ruth 3:18 -- Isa. 7:4 -- Psa. 46:10 -- John 11:40 -- Isa. 2:17

-- Luke 10:39, 42 -- Isa. 30:15 -- Psa. 4:4 -- Psa. 37:7

 -- Psa. 112:7-8 -- Isa. 28:16

Prayer || Our Lifeline

Today I write from the ambulance garage as I wait for the pager to go off.

It's unnerving. The others seem relaxed, but there is an ever-present underlying sense of anticipation and tension. The alert tones sound.  Everyone moves in practiced rhythm to the rig and we go flying down the road code three. I don’t know what we will actually find on scene until we arrive. And even then, medicine can only go so far. At some point, human efforts fail and prayer is the only resource left.

Prayer may, at times, be our only resource but it should never be our last resort.

Recently the Lord has been impressing on me the importance of prayer as a continual attitude of the heart – the first resort. So, why do we pray? “1) God told us to pray. It is a commandment, and if we love Him, we obey His commands. 2) Jesus prayed. 3) Prayer is a law of the universe. Certain things will not happen without the operation of prayer.” – Elisabeth Elliot

On Sunday, our pastor taught on Colossians 4:2-4, reiterating that God desires us to be devoted to prayer, be vigilant, pray specifically for others, and to pray with thanksgiving. “Prayer,” he said, “is the biggest indicator of our dependence on God.”  

The biggest indicator of my dependence on God.

Do I find myself praying only after everything else has fallen through? Is Christ – my Saviour, Sustainer, Creator – my last resort?

I can recall multiple times when I was so worried about something – a scheduling conflict, how to face my day after a night of no sleep, being exposed to a nasty virus – and He worked everything out perfectly. And I didn’t even think to pray about it. How much more if I had only run to Him first to cast my cares?

Because of what Christ did for me on Calvary, I have instant, twenty-four hour access to His very throne. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). What an amazing privilege.

There is no denying that prayer is hard work. I’m ashamed at how fast my thoughts can wander while I’m trying to pray. Or, how easy it is to rattle off a list of my complaints and needs, forgetting to thank the Father of Lights for the multitude of blessings He has bestowed on me.

It may be hard work, but prayer one of the most powerful ways we can influence the world around us. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

And, even if I don’t feel like He’s listening, He always hears my prayers. “The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:9). He always answers my prayers, whether that answer is yes, no, or wait. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee” (Jeremiah 33:3). In fact, the Lord delights to hear my prayers. “The prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8).

“Prayer is the earnest breathing of the new man, drawn forth by the operation of the Holy Ghost, who dwells in all true believers. Hence, to find anyone praying, is to find him manifesting divine life in one of its most touching and beauteous characteristics, namely dependence. There may be a vast amount of ignorance displayed in the prayer, both in its character and object; but the spirit of prayer is, unquestionably, divine. A child may ask for a great many foolish things; but, clearly, he could not ask for anything, if he had not life. The ability and desire to ask are the infallible proofs of life.”

 – C.H. Mackintosh

When we pray and commit our cares to Him, He grants us the peace that transcends all human understanding. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made unto God. And the peace of God, which all passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“This morning this verse helped me very much. There are so many things happening almost every day which would naturally disturb or distress or cast us down. We all know the refuge of prayer, and here we have the promise, not that we shall be instantly given what we want, but that the peace of God shall guard our hearts and thoughts. So the quietness of peaceful thoughts is the first answer God gives to his needy child, and if our thoughts are peaceful we are peaceful too.”

– Amy Carmichael

One of our most powerful resources as believers is continually available, no matter where we are or what time of day it is. Christ is ever willing to bear our burdens and cares – we need only to cast them on Him.