Monthly Archives August 2019

Thomas Brooks, the puritan pastor and teacher, keeps bringing us back to the simplicity of prayer. As children of God we have been brought into special privileges. Christ Jesus brought us into a divine inheritance. As we read the Scriptures we learn of the inheritance that Christ has made available for us. This inheritance is not for everyone, but for those in the Kingdom, purchased of God by the holy blood of Jesus Christ. The privileges of heaven do not belong, and therefore are not available, to those who refuse to come to the wedding feast at the table of God. Those who are outside of the glorious Kingdom do not have rights to the blessings and privileges that are within the Kingdom. Yet, the saints whom Christ as purchased with His life, these are the ones with heavenly privileges. Yes, these are the ones the Father as invited to enter the secret place of prayer–in the proverbial closet, to ask, seek, and knock for the spiritual graces and heavenly rains.

Come, the Father calls. Come and inquire; ask for what Christ has made available for you. No longer enemies of God. No longer strangers to the Kingdom or the King. Children and servants of the Most High God; you are citizens of heaven. Take the Father’s invitation and call upon His mercies and gracious promises that He has spoken of in His word.  What are you waiting for? The God of prayer is waiting for you to ask.

Do you need strength or patience, or perhaps zeal added to your faith? Courage? Understanding in the divine truths of Scripture? A refreshed soul? Healing for a weary or wounded soul? Joy unspeakable and full of glory? The list goes on and on.

Do you know others who need you to ask on their behalf? Of course, we all do. We have family, spiritual brothers and sisters, and the harvest fields are needing laborers. If the mercies and graces of heaven are available to you, then go to the Father on their behalf and pray on their behalf. The closet door is open. The Father is waiting.

Take Thomas Brook’s leading:

… the choice privileges that thou art interested in, calls aloud for private prayer.

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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 219). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.

I’ve learned over the years that there are a few experiences that help us see the mercies of God at work. When I say, “see” I mean recognize. One of those experiences is in our time of private prayer. When your soul is settled down and quiet and the Spirit of the Lord is speaking through His Word, there is clarity. There is clarity about God and what He is doing.

Prayer is also a tool to access the mercies and graces of God. Has He not invited us to inquire of Him in time of need? Then in prayer ask for His mercies and goodness. Ask. This is so simple but do we take Him up on His invitation to inquire for mercy. Seriously, do you?

A time of solitude with God in prayer not only helps us recognize the hand of God in and around our lives, and to help us settle our mind down to inquire for the lovingkindness of God for ourselves and for others, there is another blessing related to God’s mercies. Prayer prepares us FOR the mercies and graces of God in our lives. When the soul is laid bare before the Lord it is surrendered to His will and purpose of His mercies. The soul is less to take His mercies for granted, nor to neglect them. The soul is more grateful and humbled by His gifts of mercy. The soul in such a dependent and humble place is more apt to recognize the weight of such sovereign goodness and graciousness.

Oh that the Church would realize how valuable private prayer time is concerning the mercies and graces of God in our lives and in the lives of others. Let’s not neglect such a time to breath in and exhale the mercies of God. Let’s not take them for granted or think that God is somehow obligated to pour them upon us and others–because He is not. He is obligated to nothing. But He has called us to ask for them.

An unofficial footnote on the subject of the mercy of God:  I recently taught three sermons on the subject. If you’d like to learn more about the divine mercy of God, click on this link to take you to these sermons:   https://www.muddycreekbaptist.org/recent

Do you not have because you do not ask? Do you not see the mercies of God because you do not know what to look for? Is your mind and emotions too busy to be quiet? Remember to close yourself in the proverbial closet and be one-on-one with the Father. Leave the world and your busy life on the other side of the door.  Come, seek the Lord, for He who is rich in mercy and grace will meet you there.

Here are a few choice quotes from Thomas Brooks on prayer and mercy.

Oh, how sweet is that mercy that comes flying in upon the wing of prayer!

Prayer prepares and fits us for mercy, and mercy for us. It is prayer that gives us a right and holy use of all our mercies.

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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 237). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.