Following is an exerpt from a book by Alexander Whyte entitled "Lord, Teach Us to Pray." which I've read, own and constantly reference. The book talks about prayer and this particular chapter talks of how prayer can be so costly to us at times. I've wept when I read the words for I know the words are so very true. I weep as I write them again.
"3. Both time and thought are easy, pleasant and costless compared with this, --Thy will be done. To say "Thy will be done" when we enter our Gethsemanae, --that throws us on our faces on the earth: that brings the blood to our brows. And yet at no less cost than that was God's own Son "heard in that He feared." When someone, far dearer to us than our own souls, is laid down on his death bed, to say "Not my will, but Thine be done," --at what a cost is that said in such an hour! What a heart-racking price has to be paid for that prayer! And yet, pay that price we must: pour our hearts into that prayer we must, if we are, like our Lord, to be made perfect by suffering.
And not at death beds only, but at times which I will not trust myself to put words. Times also, when a great cloud of disappointment and darkness gathers over our life: when some great hope is forever blasted: when some great opportunity and expectation is for ever gone, and never to return. To lie down before God's feet and say, "Not my will but Thine be done," at such times--at what a cost is that said and done! And to say it without bitterness, or gloom, or envy, or ill will at any one: and to go on to the end of our lonely and desolate life, full of love and service to God and man, --at such a sight as that, God says, "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased! Come up hither. Inherit the kingdom prepared for thee before the foundation of the world!"
No comments:
Post a Comment