Almighty and eternal God, I praise Thee for the knocking at my heart’s door that warns me of Thy waiting presence.
I bless Thee for Thy hand upon my life.
God of welcome, You invite me into Your family. I sit at Your table and savor Your Word to me. Help me receive all the nourishment. You have for me today.
DAY 1 ON PRAYER by ANDREW MURRAY
The Call of Intercession
Of all the traits of a life like Christ, there is none higher and more glorious than conformity to Him in the work that now engages Him without ceasing in the Father’s presence: His all-powerful intercession. The more we abide in Him and grow to be like Him, the more His priestly life will work in us. Our lives will become what His is: a life that continuously prays for men.
The place and power of intercession in the Christian life are too little understood. As long as we view prayer only as the means of maintaining our own Christian lives, we will not fully understand what it is supposed to be. But, when we learn to regard it as the highest part of work entrusted to us – the root and strength of all other work – we will see that there is nothing we need to study and practice more than the art of praying.
The Father waits to hear every prayer of faith. He wants to give us whatever we ask for in Jesus’ name. God intends prayer to have an answer, and no one has fully conceived what God will do for the child who believes that his prayer will be heard. God hears prayer.
Many complain that they don’t have the power to pray in faith an effective prayer that accomplishes much. The message I want to give them is that the blessed Jesus is waiting and longing to teach them this.
May God open our eyes to understand the holy ministry of intercession to which, as His royal priesthood, we have been set apart. May He give us a large and strong heart to believe what mighty influence our prayers can exert. And may all fear of our being able to fulfill our vocation vanish as we see Jesus, living eternally to pray, living in us to pray, and guaranteeing the results of our prayer life.
Andrew Murray
Tim Cameron Writings 