Key Thought. Summarizing A Great Book.

from "Waiting on God" by Andrew Murray.

"Dear Christian, begin to see that waiting is not one among a number of Christian virtues, to be thought of from time to time. But, it expresses that disposition that lies at the very root of the Christian life. It gives a higher value and a new power to our prayers and worship, to our faith and surrender, because it links us, in unalterable dependence, to God Himself. And, it gives us the unbroken enjoyment of the goodness of God: "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him.""

Spoilers to The Gospel

― J. C. (John Charles) Ryle, Knots Untied 1885

“You may spoil the Gospel by substitution. You have only to withdraw from the eyes of the sinner the grand object which the Bible proposes to faith,—Jesus Christ; and to substitute another object in His place,—the Church, the Ministry, the Confessional, Baptism or the Lord’s Supper,—and the mischief is done. Substitute anything for Christ, and the Gospel is totally spoiled! Do this, either directly or indirectly, and your religion ceases to be Evangelical.” 

“You may spoil the Gospel by interposition. You have only push something between Christ and the eye of the soul, to draw away the sinner’s attention from the Saviour, and the mischief is done. Interpose anything between man and Christ, and man will neglect Christ for the thing interposed! Do this, either directly or indirectly, and your religion ceases to be Evangelical.”

Wow. A 19th century quote and it is so true today. Because our current language speaks of Jesus coming to have a relationship with us and not to establish religion I would say, using today’s vernacular, if you lose sight of Jesus by these two distractions (or any other) you become religious.

How easy it is for us in the church in America to glance off of Jesus and put other good things in front of us. As Luis Palau says, those distractions might be good but they are not the Good News. That is why we must keep grace before us; remember we are saved and grow Spiritually by Jesus!

If you are interested I put a prayer guide for National Day of Prayer on our church site. www.windbornchurch.org

Refrain on Psalm 63

My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God.
To you we come, radiant Lord,
the goal of all our desiring,
beyond all earthly beauty;
gentle protector, strong deliverer,
in the night you are our confidence;
from first light be our joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Book of Common Prayer)

Another Grace Prayer

O God,
the strength of all those who put their trust in you,
mercifully accept our prayers
and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments
we may please you both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

A Pretty Good Prayer Spot...

...to consider: The Call of and Professing Wisdom

"The Word of the Lord does not return void" Isaiah 55...
• Invitation for real satisfaction
• Promise of living in the ways of God
• Illustration of repentance: nature manifests and praises God

Psalm 34.8,9
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing."
• Know the fear of the Lord
• Do the will of the Lord
• Be in the faithfulness of the Lord

Two Great Quotes on Entrusting Prayer

The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of one thing only —a perfect oneness with the Father, and He says “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that I can be easily put upon, easily over-reached, easily ignored; but if I submit to it for His sake, I prevent Jesus Christ being persecuted.

Oswald Chambers

Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it. Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation whilst you live more closely with Christ.

Charles Spurgeon