Morning By Morning #191

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

Psalm 103:2

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

It is a delightful and profitable exercise to recognize the sovereign hand of God in the lives of the ancient saints of old, to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in forgiving them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. However, wouldn’t it be even more interesting and profitable for us to recognize the hand of God in our own lives? Shouldn’t we notice that our own history is at least as full of God’s goodness, truth, faithfulness, and righteousness as any of the lives of the saints who have gone before us?

We do our Lord an injustice when we presume He worked all His mighty acts and displayed His strength to those in ancient times, but no longer works miracles or shows His power to the saints now living on earth. If we would only review our own lives, surely we would discover a number of blessed occasions that would refresh our faith and bring glory to God. Haven’t you had experiences where He has delivered you? Haven’t you passed through deep rivers supported by His divine presence? Haven’t you walked through various fiery trials unharmed? Haven’t you seen His miracles in your life? Haven’t you seen numerous blessings from Him?

Hasn’t the same God who gave Solomon his “heart’s desire” (2 Chron. 1:11) listened to you and answered your requests? Hasn’t the lavish God of abundance of whom David sang, “Who satisfies your desires with good things” (Ps. 103:5), “filled [you] with…bounty” (Jer. 31:14) as well? Hasn’t He ever made you “lie down in green pastures” or led you “beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2)? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old.

Thus, may we weave His mercies into songs of worship. May we use the pure gold of thankfulness and the jewels of praise and fashion them into another crown for Jesus’ head. May music as sweet and as stirring as that which came from David’s harp flow from our soul while we praise the Lord whose “love endures forever” (Ps. 106:1).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Why is it we have faith the Lord will work in others’ lives while doubting He will answer our personal prayers? Is it that, knowing ourselves, we feel undeserving or unworthy? Believer, if this lack of faith describes you, remember, God did not save you and does not keep you because of your good works.

No! You were “without hope”! “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ…without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:12-13). Notice you “have been brought,” indicating God brought you to Christ—you had nothing to do with it!

Thus, never hesitate to trust God to answer your prayers for yourself. He answers His children, not on the basis of what we have done but on the basis of “the blood of Christ.” His work alone has made us worthy of His answer. We stand worthy before Him because we are “in Christ,” and “it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:30).

“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me” (Ps. 17:6).