There are different translations of these
words. One version renders it, “I will shew thee great and fortified
things.” Another, “Great and reserved things.” Now, there are reserved
and special things in Christian experience: all the developments of
spiritual life are not alike easy of attainment. There are the common
frames and feelings of repentance, and faith, and joy, and hope, which
are enjoyed by the entire family; but there is an upper realm of
rapture, of communion, and conscious union with Christ, which is far
from being the common dwelling-place of believers. We have not all the
high privilege of John, to lean upon Jesus’ bosom; nor of Paul, to be
caught up into the third heaven. There are heights in experimental
knowledge of the things of God which the eagle’s eye of acumen and
philosophic thought hath never seen: God alone can bear us there; but
the chariot in which he takes us up, and the fiery steeds with which
that chariot is dragged, are prevailing prayers. Prevailing prayer is
victorious over the God of mercy, “By his strength he had power with
God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made
supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with
us.” Prevailing prayer takes the Christian to Carmel, and enables him to
cover heaven with clouds of blessing, and earth with floods of mercy.
Prevailing prayer bears the Christian aloft to Pisgah, and shows him the
inheritance reserved; it elevates us to Tabor and transfigures us, till
in the likeness of his Lord, as he is, so are we also in this world. If
you would reach to something higher than ordinary grovelling
experience, look to the Rock that is higher than you, and gaze with the
eye of faith through the window of importunate prayer. When you open the
window on your side, it will not be bolted on the other.
This devotion was taken from The Apostle's Bible app.
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