The Healthiest State of a Christian is to be Always Empty of Self

“Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”- Lamentations 3:41

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very helpful lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favors without limiting us to pray for them we would never know how poor we really are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities and a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness.

The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great things; and for this reason the use of prayer, because, while it is passionate about God, it places us the creature where we should be, in the very dust we came from.

Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the holy labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer prepares us for the difficult and challenging work of God’s warriors, and sends us out to combat with our muscles strong and firm. The earnest pleader comes out of their place of prayer, even as the sun arises from the compartments of the east, rejoicing like a strong person to run their race.

Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which defeats the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the compartment of the prophet threatening defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to us troubled mortals the peace of God. We don’t know what prayer can do!

We thank you, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of you marvelous lovingkindness. Help us to use it the right way throughout this day! In Jesus’ Name Amen.