BEHOLD, HE PRAYETH

 

EVENING DEVOTION

NOVEMBER 14

 

Acts 9:11

…behold, he prayeth.

 
Saul, the pharisee, had long used the form of prayer, but never until now had he really prayed.
 
He was now created anew in Christ Jesus, he had spiritual life, he was under divine teaching, he felt his need of salvation, and therefore he prayed.
 
None really pray but those who are born again; but all quickened souls do pour out their hearts before God.
 
They feel that they must pray or perish.
 
They must pray or sink under the burden they have to carry.
 
The heart is too full to fold, it must have vent; the desires are too strong to be suppressed, they will escape.
 
Words may be wanting, but prayer will ascend; for prayer is rather the language of the heart than of the lip.
 
Reader, there was a time when you did not pray.
 
You were dead in trespasses and sins.
 
There was a period when you began to pray, that was the time when you were quickened by the Holy Spirit.
 
You cannot live without prayer now, though you feel dull, dead, dark, cold, and stupid; this is the evidence that you are alive unto God.
 
God admires the prayers of his people, and calls us to behold the pleasing fact, a persecutor prays.
 
He always attends to praying souls, therefore CONTINUE IN PRAYER.
 

O thou, by whom we come to God,

The life, the truth, the way!

The path of prayer thyself hast trod;

Lord, teach us how to pray.

 
James Smith