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Prayer

He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. (Psalm 102:17 ESV)

The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29 ESV)

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22 ESV)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 ESV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is


excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11 ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2-4 ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19 ESV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45 ESV)

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6 ESV)


“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(Matthew 6:7-15 ESV)

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 ESV)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. (James 5:13 ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)

Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find

grace to help in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16


Take Words with You by Tim Kerr is also a wonderful Scripture-drenched resource. You can purchase it online or download it for free here: http://www.challies.com/christian-living/take-words-with-you Another wonderful resource is Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer: http://www.matthewhenry.org/ The spade of agony digs deep trenches to hold the water of life.... When prayer is not immediately answered, it will be all the sweeter when the answer arrives. Prayer, like fruit, is ripened by hanging longer on the tree. -Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters

Do not ask God to confirm your opinion; ask Him to make your opinion conform to His truth. -Charles Spurgeon, p. 26 Beside Still Waters

No detail on earth can be too small to matter in heaven…. -Derek Kidner

When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength, we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need him. -Charles Hummel

“Pray without ceasing; not in mere words, but in thought and desire, so that your life shall be one long and perpetual prayer.” -Basil the Great (c. 329-379), theologian and bishop of Caesarea “If He prayed, who was without sin, how much more ought sinners to pray!”-Cyprian (c. 200-258), convert from paganism who was Bishop of Carthage and martyred for his faith

It may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the Word, but then we pay....preoccupation with trifles... -John Piper, A Godward Life, Vol. 1

http://www.challies.com/christian-living/take-words-with-you

http://www.challies.com/christian-living/take-words-with-you

http://www.matthewhenry.org/


"The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3 Christians should look upon God under this notion—the Father of all mercy, sitting upon a throne of grace. We should run to this heavenly Father in all conditions! We should run to our Father with our sins, as that sick child who, as soon as he found himself ill—he ran to his father to help him, "My head! My head!" 2 Kings 4:19 So in case of sin—run to God and say: "My heart! My heart! O this dead heart—Father, quicken it! This hard heart—Father, soften it! Father, my heart, my heart!" We should run to our Father with our temptations. A child, when another strikes him, runs to his father. So when the devil strikes us with his temptations, let us run to our Father: "Father, Satan assaults and hurls in his fiery darts at me! Father, it is Your child who is assaulted by this red dragon! Father, take off the tempter!" "Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares about you!" 1 Peter 5:7. What a sweet privilege is this! When any burden lies upon our hearts—we may go to our Father and unload all our cares and griefs into His loving bosom! "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken!" Psalm 55:22

-Thomas Watson, “The Beatitudes”, 1660


Let us learn never to despair of the salvation of anyone--as long as he lives. Fathers ought never to despair of prodigal sons. Mothers ought never to despair of self-willed, headstrong daughters. Husbands should never despair of wives, nor wives of husbands. There is nothing impossible with God. The arm of grace is very long, and can reach those who seem very far off. Let us pray on, and hope on, for others--however unlikely their salvation may appear to be at present. The Holy Spirit can change any heart! The blood of Christ can cleanse away any sin! We shall see many in heaven, whom we never expected to see there. Grimshaw, the famous pastor of Yorkshire, when he died, left his only son unconverted, careless, thoughtless, and indifferent to true religion. The day came when the young man’s heart was changed, and he walked in the steps of his holy father. And when he lay upon his deathbed, one of his last words was, "What will my old father say--when he sees me in heaven!" "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save!" Isaiah 59:1

-J. C. Ryle, “Many Shall Come” You and I may be naturally hard, and harsh, and unlovely of spirit, but praying much for others will remind us we have, indeed, a relationship to the saints, that their interests are ours, that we are jointly concerned with them in all the privileges of grace. I do not know anything which, through the grace of God, may be a better means of uniting us to one to another than constant prayer for each other. You cannot harbour enmity in your soul against your brother after you have learned to pray for him.

-From Intercessory Prayer by C.H. Spurgeon

Regarding casting our cares on the Lord... The burden is being now cast upon one who is better able to bare it. -Jerry Bridges To speak to God on behalf of man is probably the highest service any of us can render.... -Corrie ten Boom


"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me! But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you--for My power is made perfect in your weakness!' " 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Many prayers which seem to be unanswered--are really answered. The blessing comes--but in a form we do not recognize. Instead of the very thing we sought--something better is given! The burden is not lifted away--but we are sustained beneath it. We are not spared the suffering--but in the suffering we are brought nearer to God, and receive more of His grace. The sorrow is not taken away--but is changed to joy. Our ignorant prayers are taken into the hands of the great Intercessor, and are answered in ways far wiser than our thought! Instead of earthly trifles--heavenly riches! Instead of things which our poor wisdom sought--things God's infinite wisdom chose for us! Instead of pleasure for a day--gain for eternity!

-J.R. Miller, "Miller's Year Book--a Year's Daily Readings"


When I speak of walking with Jesus, my idea is helped by considering how it was with His first disciples--they lived in His presence! While He stayed in a place--they stayed; and when He moved--they went with Him. Having Him thus always near, always in view--the sight of Him undoubtedly gave a composure to their whole behavior; and was a check upon their eyes, their tongues, and their actions! When they had hard questions upon their minds--they did not puzzle themselves with vain reasonings. When they were in need--they looked to Him for a supply. When they had difficulties and dangers--they little doubted of deliverance, knowing that He was with them. Just so, I need a faith that shall have such an abiding, experimental conviction of His nearness and presence--as if I actually saw Him! "Lord, increase my faith!" Surely, if He were now upon earth, and I expected a visit from Him this afternoon--my heart would bound at the thought! With what a mixture of joy and fear would I open the door to receive Him! How cautious would I be--not to do or say anything that might grieve Him, and shorten His stay with me! And how gladly, if He gave me permission to speak, would I catch the opportunity of telling Him all my concerns! Surely I would be unwilling to let Him go--until He had healed the wounds in my soul, and renewed my spiritual strength; until He had taught me better how to serve Him, and promised to support me in His service. And if I heard Him say, with an audible voice, "Though they fight against you--they shall not prevail, for I am always with you to deliver you!" I would bid adieu to fear! But, alas, my unbelieving heart! Are not these things true, even at present? Is He not as near and as kind? Have I not the same reasons and the same encouragement to set Him always before me--and to tell Him . . . all my needs, all my fears, and all my troubles-- as if I saw Him with my bodily eyes! "Be sure of this: I am with you always--even to the end of the age!" Matthew 28:20

-from Letters of John Newton


"Looking unto Jesus." Hebrews 12:2

If we would look rightly to Jesus—we must look daily to His life of intercession in heaven, as our principal provision of strength and help. We surely feel that we need Almighty help every day we live. Even when started in the narrow way of life, with pardon, grace, and a new heart—we soon find that, left to ourselves, we would never get safely to our heavenly home. Every returning morning brings with it so much to be done and borne and suffered—that we are often tempted to despair. So weak and treacherous are our hearts, so busy the devil, so persecuting and ensnaring the world; and such poor, weak creatures are we—that we need Almighty help! What are we to do? Where are we to look? The great Scriptural remedy for all who feel such helplessness as I have faintly described, is to look upward to Christ in heaven, and to keep steadily before our eyes, His intercession at the right hand of God. We must learn to look UPWARD, away from ourselves and our weakness—and upward to Christ in heaven. We must try to realize daily that Jesus not only died for us and rose again, but that He also lives as our Advocate and Intercessor in heaven for us. This, surely, was the mind of Paul, when he said, "He is able also to save to the uttermost, those who come unto God by Him—seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25). Now I venture boldly to express a doubt whether modern Christians "look to Jesus" in this point of view—and make as much as they ought of His life of intercession. It is too often a dropped link in our present-day Christianity. We are apt to think only of the atoning DEATH and the precious blood, and to forget the LIFE and priestly office of our great Redeemer! It ought not to be so. We miss much by this forgetfulness of the whole truth as it is in Jesus. What a mine of daily comfort there is in the thought—that we have an Advocate with the Father, who never slumbers or sleeps, whose eye is always upon us, who is continually pleading our cause and obtaining fresh supplies of grace for us, who watches over us in every company and place; and never forgets us, though we, in going to and fro, and doing our daily business, cannot always think of Him. We have a great High Priest in heaven, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and who bids us pour out our hearts before Him, and come to Him for grace to help in time of need.

–J.C. Ryle, “Looking Unto Jesus”


"Do not be afraid--for I Myself will help you--declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 41:14 This morning, let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: "I Myself will help you. It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? Why, I have died for you! And if I have done the greater--will I not do the lesser? Help you? Before the world began--I chose you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you. I gave up My life for you! And if I did all this--I will surely help you now. If you had need of a thousand times as much help--I would give it to you. You require little, compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need--but it is nothing for Me to bestow.

What! Not help you? Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary, asking for help--it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat! Just so, you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency!" "I Myself will help you!" O my soul, is not this enough? Bring your empty pitcher here! Surely this well will fill it. Hasten! Gather up your needs, and bring them here--your emptiness, your woes, your troubles. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply. What more can you desire? The Eternal God is your helper!

-Charles Spurgeon

“...the best method of adorning our profession, and of enjoying peace in our souls--is simply to trust Him, and absolutely to commit ourselves and our all to His wise and loving management. By casting our burdens upon Him--our hearts become light and cheerful. We are then freed from a thousand anxieties and worries--which are wearisome to our minds, and which are needless for us--yes, even useless! Oh the blessedness of this confident trust in our Father's care, through all the changes and vicissitudes we meet with--knowing that His love, purpose and promise--are wise, good and unchangeable! May this be your experience!”

-John Newton


My Father in heaven, draw near to me in Your infinite mercy. May all vain and wandering thoughts be silenced and repressed, as I now approach Your footstool. I adore You for the rich blessings that are treasured up in Christ. In Him I have . . . pardon, peace, acceptance, eternal life, a balm for every wound, a solace for every trial. May I continually look to His sympathetic hand which dries all tears, and listen to His gracious voice which soothes all sorrows. May it be my habitual desire to follow in His footsteps and to reflect His image; to live and to walk so as to always do those things that are pleasing in His sight. Gladden me this day with Your presence. Morning by morning, as I set out on my path of duty, may it be my increasing desire to attain a nearer and closer conformity to You and to Your holy will--to have more childlike tenderness of spirit, childlike obedience, childlike fear of grieving or offending a Father so full of pitying love and mercy. I have to lament, heavenly Father--the proneness of my heart to depart from You--seeking my happiness too often in things which perish with the using. Break the world's alluring spell. Disenchant its delusive fascinations! Elevate my affections, purify my desires. May I seek to have the consciousness of Your pure, loving eye ever upon me, living under the supremacy of that elevating motive--to walk so as to please You. Subdue my unmortified sin; quicken me in every good and holy way. Enthrone Yourself in my soul and life, as Lord of all; and bring me to live more constantly and habitually under the constraining influence of Your love. Let it ever be to me, a gracious and consoling thought, that "the Lord reigns!" I am but clay in the hand of the almighty Potter! All that concerns me is directed and regulated by Your infinite wisdom and unchanging love. Neither is there anything arbitrary in Your dealings with me. I would lie passive at Your feet, saying, "Do to me and with me--as seems good in Your sight!" I will be still, and know that you are my God. I flee to the sanctuary of Your covenant love, rejoicing in You as my Father, and in Christ as my Redeemer. May it ever be mine, to accept the cup of affliction which You put into my hand--as a cup of love, saying, "Not as I will, but as You will."


I look forward to that joyous time when, fully purified alike from sin and sorrow, I shall enter within the heavenly gates and stand faultless before Your throne! I ask these and every other needed blessing, through the all-sufficient merits, and all-prevailing name of Jesus Christ, my only Lord and Savior. -J. R. MacDuff, “A Book of Private Prayers”, 1890 The miracles of Jesus were the ordinary works of His Father, wrought small and swift that we might take them in. -from George MacDonald: An Anthology by C.S. Lewis “O God!” I cried and that was all. But what are the prayers of the whole universe more than expansion of that one cry? It is not what God can give us, but God that we want. -from George MacDonald: An Anthology by C.S. Lewis


"I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are just, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75 Sometimes the ways of God do seem hard. Our fondest hopes are crushed; our fairest joys fade like summer flowers; the desires of our hearts are withheld from us. Yet, if we are God's children, we believe that a blessing is hidden in every one of these losses or denials. Right here, we get a glimpse into the mystery of many unanswered prayers. The things we seek, would not work good for us in the end--but evil. The things we plead to have removed--are essential to our highest interests. Health is supposed to be better than sickness--but there comes a time when God's kindness will be most wisely shown--by denying us health. He never takes pleasure in causing us to suffer; He is touched by our sorrows. Yet He loves us too well, to give us things that would harm us, or to spare us the trial that is needful for our spiritual good. It will be seen in the end, that many of the very richest blessings of all our lives--have come to us through God's denials, His withholdings, or His shattering of our hopes and joys. We should never forget that the object of all of God's dealings with His children--is to sanctify us, and make us vessels fit for His use. To this high and glorious end, our present pleasure and gratification must ofttimes be sacrificed. This is the true key to all the mysteries of Providence. Anything that hinders entire consecration to Christ, is working us harm; and though it be our tenderest joy, it is best that it be taken away. Prayer is not always granted, even when the heart clings with holiest affection to its most precious joy. Nothing must hinder our consecration. We should never think first of what will give us earthly joy or comfort--but of what will fit us for doing the Master's service. Pain is often better for us--than pleasure; loss is often better for us--than gain; sorrow is often better for us--than joy; disaster is often better for us--than deliverance. Faith should know that God's withholdings from us, when He does not give what we ask--are richer blessings than were He to open to us all His treasure-houses at whose doors we stand and knock with so great vehemence. Our unanswered prayers have just as real and as blessed answer--as those which bring what we seek.

-J.R. Miller, “Silent Times”


None have yet perished pleading for mercy; therefore keep on….Besides, better men than you have had to wait.

-Charles Spurgeon

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

The Lord knows what we require every step we take through this poor, trying, wilderness world--and stands ready to supply our needs, small and great. He is concerned in all that concerns us. Let it be our daily habit to cast our care upon Him--who cares for us. We must be growing in a better acquaintance with our own souls--as poor and needy; and with Christ--who is all and everything to us. For in Him all fullness dwells--and that fullness is for us! He is our rich storehouse. We need only to go and tell Him--and His heart is open to us in a moment. Let us live upon Him--and go to Him constantly! He is our Almighty Friend! Could we look into His heart, and see how precious we were to Him, and how truly He is near to us, watching over us, directing all things for our good and His glory--how would our present grievances vanish from our minds, as we sit as beloved children at the feet of Jesus.

-Mary Winslow, “Words of Loving Counsel and Sympathy”

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?... If in true poverty of spirit we go every morning to our Lord, as knowing not how to guide ourselves for this day; our eye constantly looking upward for direction, the light will come down. He shall direct thy paths…. Let the will be kept in a quiet, subdued, cheerful, readiness, to move, stay, retreat, turn to the right hand or to the left, at the Lord’s bidding; always remembering that is best which is least our own doing, and that a pliable spirit ever secures the needful guidance…. No step well prayed over will bring ultimate regret.”

~Charles Bridges


One minute of nearness to the Lord Jesus contains more delight than years spent in communion with any earthly friend.

-Elizabeth Prentiss

“From the moment we awake until we fall asleep, we must commend other people wholly and unreservedly to God and leave them in his hands, transforming our anxiety for them into prayers on their behalf.” From Letters and Papers from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Quotes from A Slow and Certain Light

By Elisabeth Elliot But the God of the pastures is, let us not forget, the God of everywhere else. He knows just as much about suburbia or the inner city. He is not at a loss to know what to do with us, no matter where we are or what we are anxious about. Every last thing that enters our heads is known to him. p. 22 If we want to know what to do, we need to know first who it is that will tell us. “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we have once shut up long enough to know this, we have, at least in that moment, been ready to obey. But it is the being still that is so hard for us. It often takes illness, loss, suffering of some kind, isolation and loneliness. Only when we have come to the end of our own resources, when few distractions are left to us, does it become possible to be quiet. But, if in the providence of God, we have not yet had to weather a real crisis, we may “be still” on purpose. We may choose to obey the command, stop all activity, turn aside in stillness, and know. The best kind of beginning, when we are wanting to know the will of God, is to concentrate first on God himself. And of course, the briefest effort to this will humble us, for we will learn how poorly we are in control of our thoughts. For me, there is nothing like the printed word to help me corral my scattered thoughts. Simply looking at a verse in the Bible which tells me something of God and reading through a hymn or a prayer are aids to discipline and I need all the aids I can get. p. 33 The quality of our lives is transformed not only by our initial response to Christ, but by the daily answer of faith to whatever a day holds. If we have, perhaps through some small incident, come to a new knowledge of our own sin, we recognize him then as


Savior. In our sorrow we learn that he is the Comforter. In perplexity he shows himself as our Counselor. Our weakness gives us occasion to call on him as the Mighty God, Strength, Fortress, Deliverer and Refuge. p. 35 For us, the road may have varying degrees of difficulty. But the Pioneer has traveled it before us. There will be no ravines that he cannot cross. He knows the way; he has been over every foot of it. ‘This God is our God...He will be our guide.’ pp. 42-43 I pray for what I want, as a child asks its father for whatever it wants. This is faith’s legitimate activity. Sometimes a father’s answer to his child is No. If God, like a father, denies us what we want now, it is in order to give us some far better thing later on. The will of God, we can rest assured, is invariably a better thing, but our having asked for what we wanted now provides the occasion for us to say, “Nevertheless not my will but thine be done.” In praying for guidance I find that I usually have some solution in mind which looks attractive to me. I want God to guide me, but I am hoping it will be my way. What my prayer amounts to is approval of my plan. I know this and God knows it and there is no use pretending it isn’t so. pp. 47-48 ...when we understand the taking up of the cross in order to follow, we begin to understand that everything is actually an affair of the spirit, and we shall be asked about our motives. “The chief end of man,” says the Shorter Catechism, “is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” This is what we are here for. Do I accept this position in God’s universe or do I rebel against it? pp. 51-52 “O Lord, by all thy dealings with us, whether of joy or pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to thee. Let us value no treatment of thy grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us sad, because it gives us or denies us what we want; but may all that thou sendest us bring us to thee, that knowing thy perfectness, we may be sure in every disappointment that thou art still loving us, and in every darkness that though art still enlightening us, and in every enforced idleness that thou art still using us; yea, in every death that thou art still giving us life, as in his death thou didst give life to thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.” -a prayer by Phillips Brooks p. 59


...I realize that nearly all of my trouble with finding the will of God came because I wanted it too soon. I like to plan. I like to have things mapped out well in advance, and uncertainty of any sort puts me on edge. Perhaps it is for this very reason that God has often asked me to wait until the last minute, right up to what looked like the screaming edge, before I found out what he wanted me to do. My acceptance of his timing was a rigorous exercise in trust. I was tempted to charge the Lord with negligence and inattention, like the disciples in the boat in a storm. They toiled frantically until the situation became impossible and then instead of asking for Jesus’ help they yelled, “Master, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” They weren’t perishing, they were panicking. It was not too late. Jesus got up and merely spoke to the wind and sea. p. 89

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