Most of us are most happy when we are
most troubled-free; when things are
all right - no sickness in the house;
no debts uncleared; no quarrels or
misunderstandings with spouse,kids
relatives,friends or neighbors; no
problems in our work-place....
Then we let go and forget to watch
and pray..... we forget the basics
which is:
" As long as sin and the devil and
disease and death are abroad in the
land like a virus, or a contagious
disease things are never all right."
Those are words from Tozer. Another
reason he gave that it is an illusion
to think that things are alright is
because we're "not living in a healthy
or wholesome world - a helpful world,
a world that is geared to keep you
spiritually healthy."
In fact, it is quite the contrary.
Didn't our Lord Jesus Himself warn
the disciples that in this world
there would be tribulation? That
since the world hated Him, it would
also hate His disciples for the
"slave is not greater than his
master" (John 15:18-20)?
So when Satan leaves us for a while,
and things appear all right - don't
drop your guard and neglect to pray.
Never believe and act as if things
are all right. Tozer said:
"Never trust the devil and say,
'Things are all right; the devil's
business is overdone and I won't
pray today.
"Never become overconfident for
the very reason our Lord stated:
our flesh is weak."
"Never underestimate the power
of prayer. And remember that
without it, you cannot win.
With it, you cannot lose."
But Tozer is quick to add the
conditions - that it's true
prayer, that your life is in
harmony with your prayer.
Tozer reminded us of our Lord's
example of anticipatory prayer.
Here is an extract from his
sermon:
"Watch and pray," said Jesus,
and He wasn't talking poetry.
Watch and pray, said Jesus, and
He practiced it and won because
He did. He caught the spinning
world that sin had thrown out
of gear, caught it in the web
of His own love and redeemed it
with the shedding of His own
blood.
"He did this because He readied
himself for that awful and
glorious event by prayer the
night before, by prayer in the
mountains at other times, and
by prayer all through the years
of His boyhood."
So, never act as if things are
all right, just because they
appear to be so....and then
drop our guard and forget to
pray.
