Heavenly Springs

Holding Fast The Doctrines of Grace

One Reason God Delays Answers To Prayer

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The following excerpt is from a sermon entitled, “The Woman of Canaan in Prayer.”  Here, Ichabod Spencer, affectionately regarded as The Bunyan of Brooklyn, encourages his congregation to persevere in prayer when God delays answers. The text for his sermon is Matthew 15:28, “Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”

“God is not to be judged of by man’s wisdom. He has a way of his own. But one thing is certain, delay of answer is no denial; and the woman who lies at Christ’s feet in tears, where faith put her, shall yet be glad that she lay there. If you can not rejoice in the answer as you seek God, keep seeking, and the answer is sure; it may be swelling in sweetness and magnitude as it delays. The woman’s power to persevere in prayer was itself part of her answer. It was grace which Christ bestowed upon her, while he did not appear to be bestowing anything. Consequently her prayer becomes the more earnest and humble as she waits and pleads for an answer.

Sometimes when a desired blessing comes at once the soul is rather injured than benefited by it. Prayer languishes, and the sense of dependence melts away, and the soul wanders off from God. At other times the answer is delayed, and then faith is stirred upon the soul, and the individual cries like the Psalmist: My soul followeth hard after thee. As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

It is one of the marks of true prayer where the heart is quickened, and will not be discouraged or dispirited by delayed answer.  While this heart stricken woman was holding on to her purpose and refusing to give back, perhaps, indeed probably it never entered into her heart that her Lord was strengthening her just to pray.  She probably felt just as any of you would, or as many of you have, when in the time of your trouble you have not obtained your request, but have not ceased to solicit.  Your felt unanswered – not satisfied – not happy.  Oh, you did not know that the grace to persevere in that prayer was the very richest answer you could have.  You knew it only afterward. And you could remember it then with such a vividness and belief in the power of prayer as you never could have had, if your answer had come as soon as you opened your lips to supplicate.

“There is a light in the inner sanctuary which does not shine in the exterior courts of God’s house. There is a spirit of intimacy and communion, of solemnity and satisfaction in God, which no man can reach without mustering all the power within him, and embarking all his soul in supplication. God delays to answer in order to draw the sinner. He is too far off for one of God’s children.  God wants him nearer. And he lets them go unanswered till he comes nearer and nearer, and gets into the presence of God, and is filled with the sacredness and sweetness of the secrets of God’s tabernacle.  The delay just leads him up to God’s heart and makes him acquainted with it.” 

Rev M. Sherwood, The Bunyan of Brooklyn: the Life and Practical Sermons of Ichabod Spencer, (Birmingham: Solid Ground Books, 2004), 243-245.

Morning Prayer

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It is still dark here in NYC. The sun has not yet emerged and aside from the whirling sirens of the occasional fire truck or police car, I am content in the stillness of early morning in Brooklyn. Did I mention the car alarms?  😉 I hesitated to post this Puritan prayer from The Valley of Vision.  Lately I’ve had nagging thoughts that Heavenly Springs was becoming a clearinghouse for recycled material.  But the truth is: “Does anyone ever grow tiered of hearing the Puritans?”  I think not.

The Puritans knew a thing or two about heart corruptions. Like the apostle Paul, they rightly perceived that in this unredeemed flesh “lies no good thing.” Though the devil and the world each have a hand in  beguiling us, the real problem is not outside, it’s inside. Let us not be deceived. James said, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”  The origin of every evil and temptation is the human heart. But the Puritans apprehended something else, too. The One with the power to save us from sin is also the One who keeps us from sin. The honesty of this Puritan prayer will stir the weakest soul to faith.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. Psalms 130:1-2

A brand new day awaits. May the heart of this prayer be yours, just as it is mine.

“Compassionate Lord, Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day. Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, increase in knowledge, ripen for spiritual harvest. Let me this day know Thee as Thou art, love Thee supremely, serve Thee wholly, admire Thee fully. Through grace let my will respond to Thee, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love alone enables me to serve Thee. Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with Thy choicest gifts; here is my blind understanding, chase away its mists of ignorance.

O ever watchful Shepherd, lead, guide, tend me this day; without Thy restraining rod I err and stray. Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure, and drink its poisonous streams; direct my feet that I be not entangled in Satan’s secret snares, nor fall into his hidden traps. Defend me from assailing foes, from evil circumstances, from myself. My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature; they cling to me as my very skin; I cannot escape their contact. In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me; they entice with constant baits; my enemy is within the citadel. Come with almighty power and cast him out, pierce him to death, and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.”

May God keep you strong today and by His grace, may we walk by the Spirit and not the flesh.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

Prevailing prayer in times of trial

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I pray you take as much encouragement as I just did upon reading this devotional by Charles Spurgeon. 

“And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed.” Matthew 26:39

“THERE are several instructive features in our Saviour’s prayer in His hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from His three favoured disciples.

Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial. Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God’s.

It was humble prayer. Luke says He knelt, but another evangelist says He “fell on His face.” Where, then, must be THY place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves that He may exalt us in due time.

It was filial prayer. “Abba, Father.” You will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing can forfeit a child’s right to a father’s protection. Be not afraid to say, “My Father, hear my cry.”

 
Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

Lastly, it was the prayer of resignation. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best.

Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold.

So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.”

A Morning Prayer

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“My Father,

I desire to enter Your sacred presence in the name of Jesus. Where would I be, but for such a Savior! I have no plea of my own.

My best actions — how full of blemishes!

My purest aims and motives — how mingled with selfishness!

My best righteousness — how marred with imperfection and defilement!

My best thoughts — how sinful and unworthy!

My best prayers — how cold and languid, requiring themselves to be prayed for!

If You, O Lord, would mark iniquities — who could stand!

I know not what entanglements may hinder me in prosecuting my pilgrim way, what temptations may overtake me, what sorrows may darken me. Be about my path all the day long.

Strengthen me, good Lord, for the duties which are before me this day. I cannot forecast its perils and dangers and temptations. I implore the continuance of Your sovereign, sustaining, restraining grace — to keep me from falling. Hold me up — and then I shall be safe! Let me resume my pilgrim journey, leaning always on Your omnipotent arm.

May I know in my experience, that I can do all things, and endure all things, through Christ who strengthens me. When tempted to worldliness, or sloth, or self-indulgence — may I look to Jesus for strength. Conform me to His image; mold me into His holy example. In every difficult and perplexing path, may this be my guiding maxim and direction — “How would Jesus, my Lord and Master have acted in this situation?” And knowing His will, may I delight to do it.

May I ever exercise a jealous scrutiny over my thoughts and words and actions. Preserve me from . . .
all pride and vain-glory;
all selfishness and covetousness;
all that would lead me to exalt myself;
all guilty and unworthy compromises with the world, the flesh, and the devil.

May the consciousness of Your presence and favor — lessen my every cross and sweeten my every care. I anew commend myself to Your gracious keeping and guidance this day. Watch over me for good; and may every power of my body and every faculty of my mind, combine in devotion to Your service and glory. Wean me from all that is fleeting and perishable. Let it be my highest joy to follow You — and my deepest pain to grieve You.

Other refuges will fail, other props will be removed; may I find in You, an unfailing refuge and portion and friend! I go forth to the duties of a new morning, in simple dependence on Your grace and strength.”

J. R. MacDuff, “A BOOK OF PRIVATE PRAYERS”