Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
March 22
MORNING
ÒAnd He went a
little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed.Ó — Matthew 26:39
There are several instructive features in our SaviourÕs prayer in His hour of trial. It was lonely
prayer. He withdrew even from His three favoured
disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial.
Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the Church, will not suffice, these are
very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your
private devotions, where no ear hears but GodÕs. It was humble prayer. Luke
says He knelt, but another evangelist says He Òfell on His face.Ó Where, then,
must be THY place, thou humble servant of the great Master? What dust and ashes
should cover thy head! Humility gives us good foot-hold
in prayer. There is no hope of prevalence with God unless we abase ourselves
that He may exalt us in due time. It was filial prayer. ÒAbba, Father.Ó You
will find it a stronghold in the day of trial to plead your adoption. You have
no rights as a subject, you have forfeited them by your treason; but nothing
can forfeit a childÕs right to a fatherÕs protection. Be not afraid to say, ÒMy
Father, hear my cry.Ó Observe that it was persevering prayer. He prayed three
times. Cease not until you prevail. Be as the importunate widow, whose
continual coming earned what her first supplication could not win. Continue in prayer,
and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Lastly, it was the prayer of
resignation. ÒNevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.Ó Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will
determine for the best. Be thou content to leave thy prayer in his hands, who
knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So
pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou
shalt surely prevail.
EVENING
ÒFather, I will
that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me
where I am.Ó — John 17:24
O death! why dost thou touch
the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness hath rest? Why dost thou
snatch away the excellent of the earth, in whom is all our delight? If thou
must use thine axe, use it upon the trees which yield
no fruit; thou mightest be thanked then. But why wilt
thou fell the goodly cedars of Lebanon? O stay thine axe, and spare the righteous. But no, it must not be;
death smites the goodliest of our friends; the most generous, the most
prayerful, the most holy, the most devoted must die. And why? It is through
JesusÕ prevailing prayer — ÒFather, I will that they also, whom Thou hast
given Me, be with Me where I am.Ó It is that which
bears them on eagleÕs wings to heaven. Every time a believer mounts from this
earth to paradise, it is an answer to ChristÕs prayer. A good old divine
remarks, ÒMany times Jesus and His people pull against one another in prayer.
You bend your knee in prayer and say ÔFather, I will that Thy saints be with me
where I amÕ; Christ says, ÔFather, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.Õ Ó Thus the disciple is at
cross-purposes with his Lord. The soul cannot be in both places: the beloved
one cannot be with Christ and with you too. Now, which pleader shall win the
day? If you had your choice; if the King should step
from His throne, and say, ÒHere are two supplicants praying in opposition to
one another, which shall be answered?Ó Oh! I am sure, though it were agony, you would start from your feet, and say, ÒJesus,
not my will, but Thine be done.Ó You would give up
your prayer for your loved oneÕs life, if you could realize the thoughts that
Christ is praying in the opposite direction — ÒFather, I will that they
also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.Ó Lord, Thou shalt have
them. By faith we let them go.