Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 9– Morning

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

“I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know.” 

—Jeremiah 33:3

There are “special” things, “mighty” things, or, as some translations put it, “reserved” things that are not experienced by every Christian all the time. There are the common experiences of repentance, faith, joy, and hope that are enjoyed by all to some degree; but there is an upper realm of rapture of communion and conscious union with Christ that is far from being the common dwelling-place of believers.

Not all of us have the high privilege of John the disciple to lean closely against Jesus; nor of Paul to be caught up into the third heaven. There are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God that the eagle’s eye of acumen and philosophic thought has never seen; God alone can take us there. But the chariot in which he takes us up and the fiery steeds with which that chariot is dragged are prevailing prayers.

The Scriptures says of Jacob, “By his strength he had power with God.” He grappled with God in Beth-el, and God spoke to him. Prevailing prayer takes the Christian, like Elijah, to Mount Carmel, and enables him to cover heaven with clouds of blessing and earth with floods of mercy. It elevates us to Mount Tabor and transfigures us until we’re changed into the likeness of our Lord.

If you would reach to something higher than ordinary, groveling experience, look to the Rock that is higher than you, and gaze with the eye of faith through the window of persistent prayer. And be assured that when you open the window on your side, it will not be bolted on the other. [M&E]