1 ~ The Smooth Stone of Spiritual Preparation
Our weakness and our worldliness are explained by our failure to be shut up by the Savior in spiritual fellowship. The pressures and the pleasures push us away from prayer. Martin Luther, with his many activities, once said, “I cannot get on without three hours of prayer every day.” Three minutes would be the average Christian’s time. How tragic to waste our opportunity. We piddle when we could be powerful. If we close the door and get alone with our Lord for spiritual preparation, we can find all the smooth stones we need for our warfare. (SB, 21-2)
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Spiritual preparation through prayer is necessary if we are to have wisdom for our work, if we are to have cleansing for our consecration. It is necessary if we are to do what God would have us do, for prayer will enable us to have the resources for our responsibility. (SB, 26)
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Dear Lord, do they work among us. May we sense how much we need thy presence and power for a world that hurts in sin and in sorrow. May we be willing to pay the price in prayer that we may know what though wouldst have us to do with our lives. Help us to receive the cleansing for our consecration, and perceive the resources for our responsibility. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (SB, 30)