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“With All Your Heart”, March 21
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with
all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
.
Many have not had that religious experience that is essential for them,
that they may stand without fault before the throne of God. The furnace
fires of affliction He permits to be kindled upon them to consume the
dross, to refine, to purify and cleanse them from the defilement of sin, of
self love, and to bring them to know God and to become acquainted with
Jesus Christ by walking with Him as did Enoch....
That which is called praying morning and evening, according to cus-
tom, is not always fervent and effectual. It is with many a sleepy, dull,
and heartless repetition of words, and does not reach the ear of the Lord.
God does not need or require your ceremonial compliments, but He will
respect the broken heart, the confession of sins, the contrition of the soul.
The cry of the humble, broken heart He will not despise....
We must have such love for Jesus that we will consider it a privilege
to suffer and even die for His sake. We may tell the Lord all our trials, tell
Him all our weaknesses, tell Him all our dependence upon His might and
His power. This is true prayer. If ever there was a time when the Spirit of
grace and supplication was needed to be poured out upon us, God Himself
inditing our prayers, it is now. And the promise is to be brought before
every church, and the simplicity of truth dwelt upon. “Ask, and ye shall
receive” (
John 16:24
). It is faith, living faith that we need....
The Lord will lead His people and guide them. The commandment will
go forth from God as to Daniel, to help those making earnest intercession
to the throne of His grace in their time of need.
We need to open the heart to Christ. We need much firmer faith and
more fervent devotion. We need to die to self, and in mind and heart to
cherish an adoring love for our Saviour. When we will seek the Lord with
all the heart we shall find Him, and our hearts will be all aglow with His
love. Self will sink into insignificance, and Jesus will be all and in all to
the soul.
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