'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — November 24
O LORD...in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.—Psalm 5:3
The answers to your prayers are of infinite concern. You should watch for the answers with holy impatience and desire. Like an archer, take careful aim that you may hit the mark. Send your requests to God as soldiers in rank and file. Marshal them so they may not be out of order. And what then? When you have prayed, wait and expect an answer. Though your prayers are mingled with many imperfections, if they are the travail of your soul and upright, do not give them over for lost. When Moses' mother could keep him no longer, she made an ark and daubed it with pitch, and hid him by the river's bank. When Pharaoh's daughter came to wash, she saw the babe and gave him to his mother to nurse. Truly, when the fruit of your heart, your tears, sighs, groans, and prayers, are ready to be given over for dead in the eye of sense, they lie floating upon the water; let your faith and hope be near at hand to see what will become of them. Though the messenger you send to heaven tarries long, you must wait and expect his return. If you find little fruit of your petitions, do not lay aside that calling, 'Continue steadfastly in prayer' (Col. 4:2). Anglers, though they have fished for many hours and caught nothing, do not break their rods, but draw out the hook, check their bait, and then throw it in again. So, when you have been earnest in prayer and yet received no answer, reflect upon your prayers and consider what has gone amiss. Is it possible that you have desired stones instead of bread, or fuel for your lusts? If any of these are the fault, no wonder they failed! Whatever it is, be diligent to amend it, and fall on your work again with confidence. The archer, if he shoots once, and again, and misses the mark, considers what the reason was, reforms his error and shoots to find the target.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
George Swinnock, Works, 1:133-136
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
George Swinnock, Works, 1:133-136
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
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