Days of Heaven on Earth

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, December 12, 2011

0ne of the most blessed things about divine healing is that the strength it brings is holy strength. It finds its natural and congenial outflow in holy acts and exercises.

Mere natural strength seeks its gratification in natural pleasures and activities, but the strength of Christ leads us to do as Christ would do and to seek involvement in His holy service. The life of Christ in a human body saves it from a thousand temptations to self-indulgence and sin. It not only gives us strength for higher service but also a desire for it, and puts into that service a zest and spring which give it double power.

Lord, help us today to claim Thy life, and then give it for help of others.

Have you found the branch of healing?

Pass it on.

Have you felt the Spirit's sealing?

Pass it on.

'Twas for this His mercy sought you,

And to all His fullness brought you,

By the precious blood that bought you,

Pass it on.

Scripture
To abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide—Philippians 1:24-25

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, December 11, 2011

How often we say we would like to have some strong Christian pray for us. In doing so we feel relieved to think that person is carrying us in his or her faith.

But there is One whose prayers never fail to be fulfilled and who is more willing to pray for us than is any human friend. His one business at God's right hand is to make intercession for His people. When we lay our burdens upon Him and claim His advocacy without doubt or fear, we are simply acknowledging the truth of His own appointment and His own definite promise and provision.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us . . . come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14, 16).

O'er the heavenly altar bending,

Jesus interceding stands,

All our prayers to heaven ascending,

Reach the Father through His hands.

Scripture
I pray not for the world, but for them—John 17:9

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Saturday, December 10, 2011

According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29), was Christ's great law of healing and blessing in His earthly ministry. This was what He meant when He said, With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again (Matthew 7:2). These mighty measures are limited by the measures that we bring. God deals out His heavenly treasures to us in these glorious vessels, but each of us must bring our drinking cup and according to its measure we shall be filled.

But even the measure of our faith may be a divine one. Thank God, the little cup has become enlarged through the grace of Jesus until from its bottom there flows a pipe into the great ocean. And if that connection is kept open we shall find that our cup is as large as the ocean and never can be drained to the bottom. Jesus has said to us, literally, "Have the faith of God , and surely this is a limitless measure.

Let us claim the mighty promise,

Let us light the torches dim;

Let us join the glorious chorus,

Nothing is too hard for Him.

Scripture
According to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed—2 Corinthians 10:13

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Friday, December 09, 2011

0ne of the special marks of the Holy Spirit in the apostolic church was the spirit of boldness. One of the very essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God is holy audacity. When we are dealing with a supernatural Being and taking from Him things that are humanly impossible, it is easier to take much than little; it is easier to stand in a place of audacious trust than in a place of cautious, timid clinging to the shore. Like wise seamen, let us launch out into the deep and find that all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).

Today, let us attempt great things for God; let us take His faith to believe for them and His strength to accomplish them.

The mercy of God is an ocean divine,

A boundless and fathomless flood;

Launch out in the deep, cut away the shoreline,

And be lost in the fullness of God.

Oh, let us launch out in this ocean so broad,

Where the floods of salvation e'er flow;

Oh, let us be lost in the mercy of God,

Till the depths of His fullness we know.

Scripture
Launch out into the deep—Luke 5:4

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Thursday, December 08, 2011

Divine healing is simply divine life. It is the headship of Christ over the body. It is the life of Christ within our frame. It is the union of our members with the very body of Christ and the inflowing life of Christ in our living members. it is as real as His risen and glorified body.

Divine healing is as reasonable as the fact that He was raised from the dead and is today a living man with a true body and a rational soul at God's right hand.

That living Christ belongs to us in all His attributes and powers. We are members of His body, His flesh and His bones. And if we can only believe it and receive it, we may live upon the very life of the Son of God.

Lord, help me to know the body . . . for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

There is healing in the promise,

There is healing in the blood,

There is strength for all our weakness

In the risen Son of God.

And the feeblest of His children

All His glorious life may share;

He has healing balm in Gilead,

He's, the Great Physician there.

Scripture
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?-Jeremiah 8:22

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Wednesday, December 07, 2011

In his last messages to the disciples in John 14 and 15, the Lord Jesus clearly teaches us that the very essence of the highest holiness is Abide in me, and I in you, for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:4-5).

The very purpose of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised was to reveal the Lord so that, in His own words, at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you (John 14:20). The closing echo of His intercessory prayer was embraced in these three small but infinite words, "I in them."

Is it for me to be cleansed by His power

From the pollution of sin?

Is it for me to be kept every hour

By His abiding within?

Wonderful promise so full and so free,

Wonderful Savior, oh, how can it be-

Cleansing and pardon and mercy for me?

Yes, it's for me, for me.

Scripture
Abide with us: for it is toward evening—Luke 24:

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, December 05, 2011

What is the supreme purpose of our lives? The Israelites were of one heart to make David king. Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way?

Does this objective dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares? Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life? Does it decide for us the education of our children, the investment of our means, the friendships and associations of life, the whole activity, interest and outlook of our beings? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body-all we are, all we do, all we hope for-of one heart to make Jesus King?

We're going forth united

With loyal heart and hand,

To bear His royal banner

Abroad o'er every land.

From every tribe and nation

We'll haste His Bride to bring,

And, oh, with what glad welcome

We'll make our Jesus King.

Scripture
With a perfect heart . . . to make David king—1 Chronicles 12:38

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Tuesday, December 06, 2011

0pposition is essential to a true equilibrium of forces. The centripetal and centrifugal forces acting in opposition to each other keep our planet in her orbit. The one propelling and the other repelling so act and react that instead of earth's being swept off into space in a pathway of desolation and destruction, she pursues her even orbit around her solar center.

So God guides our lives. It is not enough to have an impelling force-we need just as much a repelling force. For this reason, God holds us back by the testing ordeals of life, by the pressure of temptation and trial, by the things that seem to be against us but which really are furthering our way. He establishes our goings.

Let us thank God for both forces. Let us take the weights as well as the wings, and, thus divinely impelled, let us press on with faith and patience in our high and heavenly calling.

Lord, help me to learn from all that comes to me this day Thy highest will.

Scripture
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you—1 Peter 5:6

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, December 05, 2011

What is the supreme purpose of our lives? The Israelites were of one heart to make David king. Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way?

Does this objective dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares? Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life? Does it decide for us the education of our children, the investment of our means, the friendships and associations of life, the whole activity, interest and outlook of our beings? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body-all we are, all we do, all we hope for-of one heart to make Jesus King?

We're going forth united

With loyal heart and hand,

To bear His royal banner

Abroad o'er every land.

From every tribe and nation

We'll haste His Bride to bring,

And, oh, with what glad welcome

We'll make our Jesus King.

Scripture
With a perfect heart . . . to make David king—1 Chronicles 12:38

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, December 04, 2011

Nothing hinders our advance more than the currents in life's stream that bear us in the old direction until habit makes change almost impossible. The remedy for this is to take Christ afresh to be our Alpha and Omega for a deeper, higher, divine experience. Then we must wait even for His conception of our desires and prayers, afraid lest our highest thought should be below His great plan of wisdom and love.

Oh, Comforter gentle and tender,

Oh, holy and heavenly Dove,

We're yielding our hearts in surrender,

We're waiting Thy fullness to prove.

Anoint us with gladness and healing

Baptize us with power from on high;

Oh, come with filling and sealing

While low at Thy footstool we lie.

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Saturday, December 03, 2011

When a Roman soldier was told by his guide that if he insisted on taking a certain journey it would probably be fatal, he answered, "It is necessary for me to go; it is not necessary for me to live. That was depth. When we are convicted like that we shall amount to something.

The shallow nature lives in its impulses, its impressions, its intuitions, its instincts and very largely in its surroundings. The profound character looks beyond all these and moves steadily on, sailing past the storms and clouds into the clear sunshine which is always on the other side. It waits for the afterward that inverts sorrow, seeming defeat and failure. When God has deepened us, then He can give us His deeper truths, His profoundest secrets, His mightier trusts.

Lord, lead me into the depths of Thy life and save me from a shallow experience.

On to broader fields of holy vision;

On to loftier heights of faith and love;

Onward, upward, apprehending wholly

All for which He calls thee from above.

Scripture
For I am now ready to be offered—2 Timothy 4:6

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Friday, December 02, 2011

It is not losing all but coming short that we are to fear. We may not lose our souls, but we may lose something more precious than life-God's full approval, His highest choice and our incorruptible and star-gemmed crown. It is the one degree more that makes all the difference between hot water-powerless in the boiler and steam.

I want, in this short life of mine,

As much as can be pressed

Of service true for God and man;

Help me to be my best.

I want, among the victory throng,

To have my name confessed;

And hear my Master say at last,

Well done, you did your best.

Give me, 0 Lord, Thy highest choice;

Let others take the rest;

Their good things have no charm for me,

For I have got Thy best.

Scripture
Looking diligently lest any man fail—Hebrews 12:15


Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Thursday, December 01, 2011

Jesus will come into our surrendered lives and unite Himself with us, imparting to us His own life and being. From day to day, He will become the supply of our spiritual needs and the substitute for our helplessness.

Our part is simply to yield fully, recognizing our worthlessness, and then taking Jesus Himself to live in us and be, moment by moment, our strength and purity and victory.

One in His death on the tree,

One as He rose from the dead;

I from the curse am as free

E'en as my glorious Head.

One in His merits I stand,

One as I pray in His name,

All that His worth can demand

I may with confidence claim.

All that He has shall be mine,

All that He is I shall be;

Robed in His glory divine,

I shall be even as He.

Scripture
As he is, so are we in this world—1 John 4:17

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

When the apostle speaks of the deep things Of God (1 Corinthians 2:10), he means more than deep spiritual truth. There must be something before this. There must be a deep soil and a thorough foundation.

Much of our spiritual teaching fails because the people to whom it is directed are so shallow. Their deeper nature has never been stirred.

The beatitudes begin at the bottom of things-the poor in spirit, the mourners, the hungry hearts. Suffering is essential to profound spiritual life. We need not go to a monastery or a hospital for the leprous to find it. Unless we are born into a different race than Adam's, the first real opportunity for unselfishness will bring into our lives the anguish of crucifixion.

Because men and women have not faced this truth, they know little of suffering and death. We must have deep convictions. Truth must be to us a necessity and principle a part of our very being.

Lord, make me poor in spirit. Help me to be even as Thou wert when on earth-always the lowest and, therefore, highly exalted (Philippians 2:9).

Scripture
In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves—Philippia ns 2:3

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, November 28, 2011

How much can we do for Christ? We are accustomed to say, "As much as I can." Have we ever thought that we can do more than we can?

This thought was lately suggested by the remarks of a Christian friend who told how God had laid it upon her heart to do something for His cause which was beyond her power. When she dared to obey Him, He gave her the assurance of His power and resources. So marvelously did He meet her faith that she was enabled to do more than she could have otherwise. She was able to accomplish her heart's desire and see a work fulfilled to which her resources were unequal.

The apostle says, I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me, and yet He says we are not able to think anything, as of ourselves (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Oh, blessed sufficiency! Oh, blessed All-Sufficiency! Oh blessed nothingness, which brings us all things! Oh, blessed faith, whose rich dowry is, All things are possible to him that believeth!

Oh, to be found of Him in peace,

Spotless and free from blame.

Scripture
Without me ye can do nothing—John 15:5

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, November 27, 2011

The two men who stand worshiping at the gate of Eden represent the two divisions of mankind-believers and unbelievers.

The earthly man has far more beauty, culture and real effort in his religion. He brings the first and best of the rich, ripe produce of summer. Perhaps his altar is in favorable contrast to the rude mound of clay on which Abel offers the ghastly and revolting sacrifice of a bleeding, dying lamb.

Cain's whole offering was a direct denial of what God had said about the curse upon the ground and its fruits, of the fact of sin and the need of an atoning Savior. Abel's sacrifice acknowledged this truth and accepted God's way of pardon.

The first act of faith is to believe what God says about sin-to believe that we are sinners because God says it. Abel did. He took the sinner's place and instantly found the sinner's Savior. Cain would not see his sin and as a result, fell into deeper sin.

The devil tricks us into saying, "I have not sinned." Humble faith accepts God's judgment upon sin and thereby escapes its penalty.

Scripture
And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering—Genesis 4:4

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Saturday, November 26, 2011

Preeminent above all other ministries for the evangelization of the heathen world is the Great Commission. The command, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Luke 16:15), requires a personal ministry from man to man and for every man. The command to begin at Jerusalem passes on to us the obligation to reach God's chosen people. Go ye . . . and disciple all nations raises our commission to a nobler plane and makes us ambassadors for the King of kings and trustees of the gospel for every kindred and tribe and tongue. The command, Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8), lifts the outlook beyond any section of humanity, any circle of selfish patriotism and any form of religious selfishness. It makes the work of evangelization the one supreme ministry of the Church of Christ and the one paramount responsibility of every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you come into close touch with the risen Christ or caught the spirit of His last momentous days on earth? if so, you cannot be inactive, indifferent, or even neutral in this mighty enterprise which is the emergency work of our times and which is the one great business for which God has called us.

Scripture
As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you—John 20:21

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Friday, November 25, 2011

Nothing will more effectually arrest the working of the Spirit in the heart than the spirit of criticism. At the end of a meeting, a young minister came forward and told me of the great blessing he had received that afternoon and of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that had come into his heart and being, setting him free from the bondage of years. And then he added, "it all came through your answer to that question, 'Will a criticizing spirit hinder the Holy Spirit from filling the heart?'"

As the question was asked and answered, he said, "I was sitting in the church criticizing much of what was going on, objecting to this thing and to that thing, finding fault with the expressions of praise and testimony and feeling thoroughly unhappy. The Lord brought the answer home to my heart and convicted me of my sin. There and then I laid it down and began to see the good instead of the evil. Blessing fell upon me, and my soul was filled with joy and praise. I saw where my error lay-that for years I had been trying to see the truth with my head instead of my heart."

Scripture
Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come—1 Corinthians 4:5

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Thursday, November 24, 2011

A woman remarked in my hearing: "I have so much work to do that I haven't time to wait on the Lord to get strength to do it." Surely that was making bricks without straw. Even if her tasks were in the name of the Lord and the church, she was under the devil's bondage.

God sends not His servants on their own charges; but God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The old Latin motto festina lente-"Make haste slowly"-has a great lesson for us. The more work we have to do, the more frequently we must drop our heads upon our desks and wait a moment for heavenly aid and love. Then we can press on with new strength. One hour baptized in the love of the Holy Spirit is worth ten battling against wind and tide without the heavenly life.

I dwell with the King for His work,

And the work, it is His and not mine;

He plans and prepares it for me

And fills me with power divine.

So, duty is changed to delight,

And prayer into praise as I sing;

I dwell with my King for His work

And work in the strength of my King.

Scripture
I can do all things through Christ—Philippians 4:13

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

0ne of the greatest enemies to faith is indolence. it is much easier to lie and suffer than to rise and overcome. It is much easier to go to sleep on a snowbank and never wake again than to rouse one's self and shake off the lethargy and overcome the stupor. Faith is an energetic art. Prayer is intense labor. The effectual working prayer of the righteous man availeth much.

Satan tries to put us to sleep as he did the disciples in the garden. Let us not sleep as do others, but let us awake and be sober, continuing in prayer and watching thereunto with all perseverance (Ephesians 6:18), stirring up ourselves to take hold of God's strength, not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise (Hebrews 6:12).

It is the wind that carries the sailing ship across the waves, but the wind is powerless unless the hand of the boatman is held firmly upon the rudder and the rudder set hard against the wind. In like manner we hold the rudder; God fills the sails. It is not the rudder that carries the ship, but it is the rudder turned against the wind that carries the ship. So God keeps us in perfect peace while we are stayed upon Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Scripture
It is high time to awake out of sleep—Romans 13:11

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Greater than the fault we condemn and criticize is the sin of criticism and condemnation. There is no time that demands such grace as when we deal with an erring one.

A lady once called on me on her way to give an erring sister a piece of her mind. I advised her to wait until she could love the woman a little more. Only Jesus, who loved sinners well enough to die for them, can deal with the erring. We can never see all the heart. He does, and He can convict without condemning and reprove without discouraging.

Oh, for more of the heart of Christ! Take care how you speak of another's fault. Some day soon you may be in the same or deeper condemnation. Very significantly does the Master say that the man who sees a mote in his brother's eye usually has a rafter in his own.

Give me a heart like Thine,

Give me a heart like Thine.

By Thy wonderful power,

By Thy grace every hour,

Give me a heart like Thine.

Scripture
Cast out the beam out of thine own eye—Matthew 7:5

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, November 21, 2011

It is said that a mother found her small boy standing beside a tall sunflower, with his feet stuck in the ground. When she asked, "What in the world are you doing there?" he naively answered, "Why, I am trying to grow to be a man."

His mother laughed heartily at the idea of his being planted in the ground in order to grow like the sunflower. Then, patting him gently on the head, she said, "Why, Harry, that is not the way to grow. You can never grow bigger by trying. just come right in and eat enough good food and have plenty of play and you will soon grow to be a man without trying so hard."

Harry's mother was right. There could not be a better answer to the question: "How do the lilies grow?" than Hannah Whitehall Smith's comment, "They grow without trying."

Our deepest spiritual life is the life of self unconsciousness through which we become united to Christ. We live continually on His life, being nourished, fed and constantly filled with His Spirit and presence and all the fullness of His imparted life.

Scripture
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow—Matthew 6:28

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, November 20, 2011

An American gentleman once visited the saintly Albert Bengel. He was very desirous to hear him pray. So one night he lingered at his door, hoping to overhear his closing devotions. The rooms were adjoining and the doors ajar. The good man finished his studies, closed his books, knelt down for a moment and simply said, "Dear Lord Jesus, things are still the same between us" and then quietly fell asleep. So close was his communion with his Lord that labor did not interrupt it and prayer was not necessary to renew it. It was a ceaseless, almost unconscious presence, like the fragrance of the summer garden or the company of some special person by our side whose presence we somehow feel, even though the busy hours pass by and not a word is exchanged.

O blessed fellowship, divine,

O joy, supremely sweet,

Companionship with Jesus here,

Makes life with joy replete;

0 wondrous grace, 0 joy sublime,

I've Jesus with me all the time.

Scripture
The disciple whom Jesus loved . . . leaned on his breast—John 21:20

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Friday, November 18, 2011

Great is the difference between action and transaction. We may be constantly acting without accomplishing anything, but a transaction is action that passes beyond the point of return and becomes a permanent committal.

Salvation is a transaction between the soul and Christ in which the matter passes beyond recall. Sanctification is a great transaction in which we are utterly surrendered, irrevocably consecrated and wholly committed to the Holy Spirit; then He comes and seals the transaction and undertakes the work. Our covenant for our Lord's healing should be just as explicit, definite and irrevocable.

This should also be true of the covenants to which God is leading His children from time to time in regard to other matters of obedience and service. God grant that during this hallowed day many a consecrated life may be able to say with new significance and permanence, Tis done, the great transaction' s done."

For the living Vine is Jesus;

in whose fullness we may hide;

And find our life and fruitfulness

As, we in Him abide.

Scripture
And he that sat upon the throne said, . . . It is done—Revelation 21:5-6

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Thursday, November 17, 2011

God does give us impressions but not with the intent that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression comes from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt.

We read of the impression that came to Jeremiah concerning the purchase of the field of Anathoth. Jeremiah, however, did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his Uncle's son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase - Then Jeremiah said, I knew that this was the word of the Lord/ (Jerermah 32:8).

He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts that could bring conviction unto others as well as himself.

God wants us to act according to His mind. We are not to ignore the Shepherd's personal voice, but like Paul and his companions at Troas we are to listen to all the voices that speak and gather from all the circumstances, as they did, the full mind of the Lord.

Scripture
The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them Numbers 10:33

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Jesus illustrates the unexpectedness of His coming by the figure of a thief entering a house when the master is not there. Life, like a house when the master the old Jewish night, may be divided into three watches-youth, maturity, old age. The summons to meet God may come to us in any of these watches.

A writer tells us of his experience with a camping party of which he was a member and which, he tells us, always arranged to have watches at night. "We became especially careful after what I am about to narrate happened. During the first night, from sunset to sunrise, we had in turn carefully guarded our camp. But when the next night came, we were so impressed with the seeming safety of the neighborhood that we concluded no guard was needed until bedtime. We spent the evening in the main tent telling stories, singing and enjoying ourselves. When the hour to retire arrived, we discovered that our other tents had been robbed and everything of value stolen. The mischief was done before we thought a guard necessary."

It is never too soon to begin watching against sin.

Scripture
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour-Matthew 25:13

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

0 man of desires was the divine character given to Daniel. The thought is translated in the King James version, A man greatly beloved. But it literally means, 0 man of desires. Desire is a necessary element in all spiritual forces. It is one of the secrets of effectual prayer. What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them (Mark 11:24). The element of strong desire gives momentum to our purposes and prayers. Indifference is an unwholesome condition; indolence and apathy are offensive both to God and nature.

So it is in our spiritual lives: God often has to wake us up by the presence of trying circumstances and push us into new places of trust by forces that we must subdue.

There is no factor in prayer more effectual than love. if we are intensely interested in an object or an individual, our petitions become like living forces. Not only do they convey their wants to God, but in some sense they convey God's help back to us.

May God so fill us today with the heart of Christ that we may glow with the divine fire of holy desire.

Scripture
0 man of desires (margin)—Daniel 10:11

Inspirational Readings by A.B. Simpson
Days of Heaven on Earth
Monday, November 14, 2011

How strong is the snare of the things that are seen, and how necessary for God to keep us in the things that are unseen! If Peter is to walk on the water, he must walk; if he is going to swim, he must swim; but he cannot do both. if the bird is going to fly it must keep away from the fences and the trees and trust to its buoyant wings. If it tries to keep within easy reach of the ground, it will make poor work of flying.

God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength and to let him see that in his own body he could do nothing. He had to consider his own body as good as dead and then take God for the whole work. When he looked away from himself and trusted God alone, then he became fully persuaded that what God had promised He was able also to perform.

This is what God is teaching us. He has to withhold encouraging results until we learn to trust without them, and then He loves to make His work real in fact as well as faith.

Let us look only to Him today to do what/ He will choose in the way He will choose.

Scripture
The things which are seen are temporal—2 Corinthians 4:18