Saturday, January 17, 2009

Forsaking All

A dear friend lent me a book this week by author William MacDONALD and although at first it seemed rudimentary there is deep truth in the pages. I may have read it years ago but it isn't striking a bell with me so I'm now using it in my quiet time. I have just started it but look forward to reading through it and gleaning truth, meditating on it and applying it to this simple heart.

Two such prayers that I hope to really study today and glean depth from are below; may they bless your heart as well.

"Lord, let me have no will of my own or consider my true happiness as depending in the smallest degree on anything that can befall me outwardly, but as consisting altogether in conformity to Thy Will". Henry Martyn

"Father, let me be weak that I might lose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand. Even, Father, would I lose the love fondling. How often I have release a grasp only to retain what I prized by "harmless" longing, the fondling touch. Rather, open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ's was opened, that I, releasing all, might be released, unleashed from all that binds me now. He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp." Jim Elliot

Wow, that prayer by Jim Elliot was answered in his death at the hand of a primitive people; taken while bringing the gospel to them.

These are not prayers easily spoken and quickly uttered but ones that cost the most-and render the greatest reward.

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful prayers to read on a saturday morning. Have a great weekend.

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  2. Noreen,those are powerful prayers. How many saved lives, missionaries, and hearts moved by the lives of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully on that sacrificial day.
    Sweet blessings,
    Miriam

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  3. Noreen,

    Wow! Very powerful prayers ... As Miriam mentioned, how many souls saved as a result of that *sacrificial day* ~ an amazing story that was!

    I was given a book awhile ago by William MacDonald called BE YE HOLY that I haven't started reading yet but hope to soon as it sounds challenging and encouraging!

    Blessings to you as you continue to *house hunt* :o)

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  4. Such powerful quotes... who is the book from?

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  5. Hi Noreen,
    Wow, very powerful prayers. It sounds like a wonderful, challenging book.

    I hope you have had a lovely weekend.

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  6. you shared,
    "Wow, that prayer by Jim Elliot was answered in his death at the hand of a primitive people; taken while bringing the gospel to them."

    Wow is right! I can't imagine the amount of Grace God poured out on this man as he suffered for the Gospel.

    I wonder if this was much like the covering God gave the early Christians who suffered in the Roman arenas?

    The world might see this sort of death as Gods inability to save His own as if somehow He has to muster up an answer to accommodate their verbal doubts. They voiced the same accusation at the Cross. They consider His silence an admission of guilt. Ha! God feels no obligation to answer in any situation that will not bring Him glory or suit His purposes.

    A very thought provoking post.

    Hope you and the family are doing great this weekend. We have snow!
    Just a dusting but snow nonetheless.

    ReplyDelete

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