February 6, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Praying always." — Ephesians 6:18 · KJV

What multitudes of prayers we have offered since the first moment we learned to pray! Our first prayer was for ourselves: we asked that God would have mercy on us and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, we had still more prayers for ourselves — for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we were led to crave a fresh assurance of faith, the comforting application of the promise, deliverance in the hour of temptation, help in the time of duty, and support in the day of trial. We have had to go to God for our souls as constant beggars, asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God: you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten came down from heaven, and all the water it has drunk flowed from the living rock, Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner on the daily bounty of God, and so your prayers have gone up to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were countless, and so the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers as varied as the mercies have been many. Have you not cause, then, to say, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication"? For as your prayers have been many, so have God's answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened and helped you, even when you dishonored Him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has so graciously heard your poor, weak prayers. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."