Keep Knocking!

When William Carey had succeeded in establishing his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent him an assistant, a Mr. Ward, who was a printer by trade. Soon they were turning out printed portions of the Bible for distribution among the natives. Carey spent many years learning the language and wrote grammars and dictionaries for the use of his successors.

One day while Carey was away from his station, a disastrous fire broke out and completely destroyed the building, the presses, many printed Bibles and, worst of all, the manuscripts, grammars and dictionaries on which Carey had spent so much time.

When Mr. Carey returned, his servants told him of the loss. Without a word of despair or anger he knelt down and thanked God that he had the strength to do the work all over again. He started immediately, not wasting a moment in idle despair and before his death he duplicated his first achievements and produced far better work than he had done formerly.

Thousands, in this world, have lost all—including the very house over their head—and many who know the Lord have gone on, in faith, seeking to serve Him in and through it all. When sudden disaster and loss come to God's people, He again proves His all-sufficiency. Having Him, all else is as rubbish. Let us be completely occupied with Him and His glories.

God encourages us to come to him for our every need. We shouldn't despair if God does not answer our prayers immediately, he will in due time, if we continue to pray. He often hears prayers and grants blessings even "long after" they appear to be unanswered or withheld. He does not promise to give blessings "at once." He promises only that he will do it, or "will answer" prayer.

Why does He often cause us wait? He tries our faith. He might leave us to persevere for months or even years, until we "feel" entirely our dependence on him, until we see that we can obtain the blessing in no other way, and until we are "prepared" to receive it.

Often we aren't prepared to receive it when we ask for it at first. We may be proud, or have no just sense of our dependence, or we would not value the blessing, or it may "at that time" not be best for us to obtain it.

However, all of these blessings our heavenly Father is more than ready to give to every one that asks for them, like an indulgent parent gives food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God. We should go to Him again and again, until the prayer is heard, and God grants what we ask of him. (Luke 11:9-10) Perserverance in prayer, and persistence in faith will always get God's attention!

Scripture Readings: 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; Luke 11:8

Let us pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

May God Bless You,

Robyn