Morning, January 2
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Colossians 4:2
"Continue in prayer."
Colossians 4:2
It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is
occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples,
enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible
before we read, "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;" and
just as we are about to close the volume, the "Amen" of an earnest
supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a
wrestling Jacob--there a Daniel who prayed three times a day--and a
David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we
see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of
commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the
sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that
whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be
conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is
because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities,
that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want
nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no
mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord's mercy show thee thy misery! A
prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the
believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of
the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the
watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If
thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father's face, and live in
thy Father's love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble,
zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter
oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be
an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to
the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, "Continue in
prayer."