Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

October 18– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“[Lord], your paths overflow with richness.” 

—Psalm 65:11

The Lord has many paths that overflow with richness, but a special one is the path of prayer. No believer who spends much time in the closet will have to cry out, “I’m starving; I’m going to die!” Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy-seat and become like the parched fields in times of drought.

Wrestling with God in prayer is sure to make the believer strong, if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of grace. If you find yourself alone in prayer often, then you will have much assurance; if your time with Jesus is little, then your faith will be small, polluted with many doubts and fears and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord.

Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not told to come because you are an advanced saint but are freely invited if you are a saint at all, see to it, dear reader, that you give yourself often to private devotion. Be much on your knees; this is how Elijah brought rain upon the famished fields of Israel.

There is another special path of richness to those who walk in it; it’s the secret walk of communion with Jesus. There are no words to describe the holy calm that comes from leaning on him. Few Christians understand it; they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of the mountain. They seem content to live in the outer court, and they don’t enter the holy place which is the privilege of priests. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they don’t sit down with the priest to eat and enjoy it.

Dear friend, sit today under the shadow of Jesus. Come up to that palm tree, and take hold of its branches. Let Jesus be to you as the apple tree among the trees of the forest. Be satisfied with the sweetness of his fruit. [M&E]