Basic HTML Version
The Preciousness Of Secret Prayer, May 25
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is
a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:8
.
A deep sense of our need and a great desire for the things for which we ask
must characterize our prayers, else they will not be heard. But we are not to
become weary and cease our petitions because the answer is not immediately
received. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by
force” (
Matthew 11:12
). The violence here meant is a holy earnestness, such as
Jacob manifested. We need not try to work ourselves up into an intense feeling,
but calmly, persistently, we are to press our petitions at the throne of grace. Our
work is to humble our souls before God, confessing our sins, and in faith drawing
nigh unto God.... It is the design of God to reveal Himself in His providence and in
His grace. The object of our prayers must be the glory of God, not the glorification
of ourselves....
God has honored us by showing how greatly He values us. We are bought
with a price, even the precious blood of the Son of God. When His heritage shall
conscientiously follow the Word of the Lord, His blessing will rest upon them in
answer to their prayers. “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me
with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and
rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he
is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (
Joel 2:12, 13
).
In secret prayer the soul should be laid bare to the inspecting eye of God....
How precious is secret prayer—the soul communing with God! Secret prayer is to
be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden
of petitions. Calmly, yet fervently, the soul is to reach out after God; and sweet
[137]
and abiding will be the influence emanating from Him who sees in secret, whose
ear is open to the prayer arising from the heart. He who in simple faith holds
communion with God will gather to himself divine rays of light to strengthen and
sustain him in the conflict with Satan.
156