Magnificent Prayer #176
Magnificent Prayer #176
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.
John 10:2–5
The prayer life calls for seasons of silent times, times when we take ourselves away from the crowd, family, loved ones, business, and get quiet before Him.
One can be too busy about his Master’s work and neglect these quiet, silent times, and become lean, grow peevish, fretful, cross.
Too often we talk too much when we pray. We do not give God a chance to say one word, and not a few times, we do nothing but beg—beg—beg; there is no note of praise or thankfulness.
W. J. HARNEY
Pray About It: Why should our prayers ever consist of begging? Are we beggars before God, or sons and daughters? Do the children of kings beg their father for their necessities? No, from their father they receive all the benefits of the kingdom as their heritage as princes and princesses.
Ask confidently and quietly. Don’t beg. Be silent. Offer praise and thanksgiving.
Silence promotes the presence of God, prevents many harsh and proud words, and suppresses many dangers in the way of ridiculing or harshly judging our neighbor. Silence humbles the mind, and gradually weans it from the world; it makes a kind of solitude in the heart.
FRANÇOIS FÉNELON
From the book
