Prayer and Promises

— Mark 4:14,20, NLT 

We may learn a precious lesson from the work of the farmer in cultivating his field. In order to reap a harvest, he must co-operate with God, the great Husbandman. His part is to prepare the ground and plant the seed, at the right time and in the right way. God gives the seed life. He sends the sunshine and the showers, and the seed springs up, “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” If the farmer fails to do his part, the sun may shine, the dew and the showers may fall upon the soil, but there will be no harvest. And though the work of planting had been done, unless God sent the sunshine and the dew and the rain, the seed would never, never spring up and grow. 

So, in the cultivation of the Christian graces, we must co-operate with God... Much prayer is necessary to co-operation with God. Our faith must grasp the glorious fact that God hears and answers the prayers of every sincere seeker for help. As the believer bows in supplication before God, and in humility and contrition offers his petition from unfeigned lips, keeping his eyes fixed steadily on the Mediator of the new covenant, he loses all thought of self. His mind is filled with the thought of what he must have in order to build up a Christlike character. He prays, “Lord, if I am to be a channel through which Thy love is to flow day by day and hour by hour, I claim by faith the grace and power that Thou hast promised.” 

How this dependence pleases the Master. How He delights to hear the steady, earnest pleading. How quickly the sincere, fervent prayer is recognized and honored... With wonderful, ennobling grace the Lord sanctifies the humble petitioner, giving him power to perform the most difficult duties. All that is undertaken is done as unto the Lord, and this elevates and sanctifies the lowliest calling. It invests with new dignity every word, every act, and links the humblest worker, the poorest of God’s servants, with the highest of the angels in the heavenly court. 

Dear Lord, my eyes are fixed on You in consecration of my life so I may grow in the Christian graces. I want to be filled with Your character. I ask for Your wonderful, ennobling grace that I may receive power to perform the most difficult tasks in doing Your work. O Lord, if I am to be a channel through which Your love is to flow day by day and hour by hour, I clam by faith the grace and power that You have promised.