EPC Australia

Where did he find his inclination and power to pray? "In his heart." The heart is every thing in religion. "Man judgeth according to the outward appearance; but the Lord looketh to the heart;" and requires it: My son, give me thy heart. Where he does not find this, he finds nothing. Where this speaks, words are needless; he knows what is the mind of the spirit. Hannah — she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: yet what a prayer she prayed; and how successfully! It is a blessed thing, therefore, to find it in our heart to pray; so that, while it is with many a bodily exercise only, a task which they would gladly decline, an effort forced upon them from something without, from some danger, or trouble, we may do it naturally, and therefore constantly and pleasantly, from a principle in us, like a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.

And what was the prayer he found there? It was this, "Let the house of thy servant David be established before thee." David had a peculiar concern for his family; and, from his character, we may be assured, he wished it to be not only or principally glorious, but good. It is a man's duty to seek to promote the temporal welfare of his house, for he that provideth not for his own, especially those of his own house, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. But the wish of many is not to build up their house in Israel, but in the world. They are only anxious for an increase of earthly wealth and honour. And how injurious have such risings in life proved to the comfort and the religion of the family. And how inconsiderate and inconsistent are parents, especially if they are pious ones, in longing for such perils, when they know the depravity of human nature, and the snares of prosperity. How much better is it to see, and to leave their household great in the sight of the Lord, and under the blessing of that Providence which will make all things work together for their good.

And what produced this prayer? "Therefore" — "For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house" — "therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee." He had refused him the pleasure and honour of building the Temple which he had purposed. But he should be no loser. The will should be taken for the deed. Though he did not build God a house, God would build him a house; and except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it. But all things are possible with him, and them that honour him, he will honour. What the king said to his prime minister — "You mind my affairs, and I will mind yours" — he says to each of his servants: Serve me yourselves; and be persuaded that my blessing is upon my people, and that the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

But see, the certainty of a thing does not supersede the use of the means in attaining it. Why should David pray for it, when God had pledged himself to do it? So some would argue, but it would be the arguing of folly. The Scripture, the wisdom of God, knows nothing of this perversion. No doctrine there leads to enthusiasm. There the means and the end are connected. There activity grows out of dependence, and zeal, out of confidence. There God says, after he has promised the thing, "I will yet be inquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them." Yea, we see prayer is not only consistent with the promise, but derived from it. It is this that furnishes the matter of our petitions, and gives us all our encouragements.

Therefore let us be thankful for the promises. Let us search them out. Let us place them opposite all our wants. Let us plead them, and say, Remember the Word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused him to hope. And, as then we can ask in faith, so we may pray with confidence; for whatsoever we ask according to his will, we know he heareth us.

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay