Your Daily Devotional for July 20, 2006

 

July 20, 2006

 

It’s a Personal Matter

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

 

James 4:8a

 

A soldier once told the story of his conversion. He had received a letter from his mother saying, “My boy, when you get this letter, won’t you go off behind a tree and pray to your mother’s God that you may be converted? Now, my son, won’t you become a Christian?” He said he put the letter in his pocket and expected to pay no more attention to it, as he thought he would get a good many more letters from her. A few days later, a dispatch was sent, saying his mother was dead. Then he took her advice, and went off behind a tree and cried to God; the prayer was answered, and he said: “This is the first time I have ever confessed Jesus Christ.”

 

In James, we are shown that we can personally talk with God. Even as the kings in the Old Testament were dedicated to the Lord’s work by the anointing of oil, our dedication to Him allows us to personally commune with Him. 

 

We can come to God in full assurance of faith knowing that He will answer us. Only after we are saved can we have that assurance of faith. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” This verse is telling us that whoever believes on Christ and receives Him as their Saviour can become a child of God. Isn’t that a wonderful promise?

 

Once we are a child of God, we can ask Him for anything at any time! As a loving Father, God wants to listen to our desires and needs and then provide for us. You don’t have to be the greatest speaker in order to have God listen to you. All you have to be is His child!

 

Charles Spurgeon once said, “There is no need for us to go beating about the bush, and not telling the Lord distinctly what it is that we crave at His hands. Nor will it be seemly for us to make any attempt to use fine language; but let us ask God in the simplest and most direct manner for just the things we want…I believe in business prayers. I mean prayers in which you take to God one of the many promises which He has given us in His Word, and expect it to be fulfilled as certain as we look for the money to be given to us when we go to the bank to cash a check. We should not think of going there, lolling over the counter, chattering with the clerks on every conceivable subject except the one thing for which we had gone to the bank, and then coming away without the coin we needed; but we should lay before the clerk the promise to pay the bearer a certain sum, tell him in what form we wish to take the amount, count the cash after him, and then go on our way to attend to other business. That is just an illustration of the method in which we should draw supplies from the Bank of Heaven”

 

God wants us to come to Him personally. He is our Father and our Friend and He wants to talk to us! Just as you wouldn’t use lofty language and informal words when speaking to your friend, so God doesn’t want you to feel that praying is a formal matter. It’s a personal matter! When was the last time you sat down and really had a heart-to-heart talk with God? He wants to talk to you right now! Take time today, if you haven’t already, and tell Him what’s on your mind. He already knows but He’s waiting for you to tell Him so He can help you.

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