the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Our Daily Homily - Volume 3
Daniel 9:23—At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth. (R.V.)
This is always so. Directly a God-given prayer is uttered, the commandment goes forth. There is a sense, indeed, in which true prayer is the anticipation in the human heart of the Divine intention: "Before they call I will answer; and they are yet speaking I will hear." Does it seem as though your prayer were like a ship lost at sea, which brings no cargo home? Dare to believe that the commandment did go forth, though as yet it has not reached you. It is operating; and before long you shall see the result. "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye have received them." The answer may not have come to hand, but it has been granted. Even if you do not live to see the answer, dare to believe that it is assured.
What a tender address is this—"greatly beloved"! And the margin says very precious. Is it really so, that we are very precious to God? To those who believe, Christ is precious; but how wonderful that they should be amongst his jewels, who were born of the first Adam, and have cost so much pain and sorrow by their sins! There is no accounting for love. Directly love begins to enumerate the reasons for its attachment, it ceases to be true love. Love knows no law except the drawing of an inward affinity. So Jesus draws near to us. We are very precious to Him. To have our love well compensates Him for all his bitter sorrow. Let us be very careful not to hurt Him, or give Him needless grief. And when we pray, let it be with the assurance that He bends over us and says, "Thou art greatly beloved; ask what thou wilt." As soon as the child of God says "Father," the whole Godhead is quick to hear his request.
