Morning By Morning #308

He is praying.

Acts 9:11

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul (soon to be Paul) began to pray, the Lord heard him. This should be a comfort to the distressed, though praying, soul. Often a poor brokenhearted soul bends his knees in prayer but can only utter his cries in the language of sighing and tears. Yet His groaning has made all the harps of heaven burst into song, and his falling tears have been caught by God and placed as treasure in the teardrop bottle of heaven. “You…put my tears in your bottle” (Ps. 56:8 ESV) implies the tears are caught as soon as they flow. The petitioner whose fears prevent his words from flowing will be well understood by the Most High. He may only be able to look heavenward with misty eyes, but “prayer is the falling of a tear” (Joseph Parker, 1830 – 1902). Tears are the diamonds of heaven, sighs are part of the music of Jehovah’s kingly court, and both are counted with “the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high” (James Montgomery, 1771 – 1854).

Never think your prayer, no matter how weak or trembling, will be disregarded. Jacob’s ladder or stairway is lofty, but our prayers rest upon the Angel of the covenant and thus climb to the heights of the starry hosts. (See Gen. 28:12.) Our God not only hears our prayers but also loves to hear them. “He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted” (Ps. 9:12). Yes, it’s true He doesn’t give heed to prideful looks and lofty words, He doesn’t care for the pomp and pageantry of kings, He doesn’t listen to the loud blare of warlike music, nor is He impressed by the triumph and pride of mankind.

Yet wherever there is a heart swollen with sorrow, or a lip quivering in agony, or deep groans, or repentant sighs; then the heart of Jehovah is open. He registers each one in the journal of His memory, putting our prayers like rose petals between the pages of His book of remembrance. And when that book is finally opened, a precious fragrance will arise from it.

Faith asks no signal from the skies,

To show that prayers accepted rise,

Our Priest is in His holy place,

And answers from the throne of grace.

Josiah Conder, 1789 – 1859

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Today Spurgeon quotes Joseph Parker, one of his contemporaries and a minister in London. Here is the beautiful quote in its context:

Prayer is the uplifting of an eye, prayer is the falling of a tear, prayer is the outdarting of an arm as if it would snatch a blessing from on high. You do not need long sentences, intricate expressions, elaborate and innumerable phrases; a look may be a battle half won. According to “thy faith: be it unto thee” (Matt. 15:28 KJV). You may pray now, or in the crowded street, or in the busiest scene—you can always have a word with God—you can always wing a whisper to the skies. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17 KJV). Live in the spirit of prayer, let your life be one grand desire, Godward and heavenward, then use as many words or as few as you please, your heart is itself a prayer, and your look a holy expectation.

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