This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me." Job 6:4.
This can often be our experience. None of us can claim the depth of afflictions that Job faced to be sure, but our own afflictions, though undoubtedly on a much smaller scale, are painful nevertheless. Sometimes there's just no better way to describe it than in those words, "the arrows of the Almighty are within me." But better are God's arrows than the devil's darts. If we must endure affliction, knowing that it is coming from God's bow gives us a measure of comfort, does it not? For there are some things that we know about our God—He is good, He is wise, and He always does what is best for His children (Rom 8:28). We can say like Job elsewhere, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15).
Ultimately, we know that God's arrows are not meant to destroy us, but to weaken our stubborn dependence on flesh. I am reminded of Clarence Sexton's testimony where he testified that the 25 years of spine surgery, the titanium rod from top to bottom, the metal neck, the foot that won't work, and part of a leg that won't work are all a GIFT from God. That the "power of Christ may rest upon me ... for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor 12:9, 10. Be sure to watch the beautiful clip below:
In his book, The Root of the Righteous, Tozer makes this enlightening comment:
We boast in the Lord but watch carefully that we never get caught depending on Him. Pseudo faith always arranges a way out to serve in case God fails it. Real faith knows only one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second way or makeshift substitutes. For true faith, it is either God or total collapse.
The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in.
What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day. For each of us the time is surely coming when we shall have nothing but God. Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will all be swept away and we shall have only God.
Friends, the arrows of the Almighty are often sent in order to weaken our trust in those "secondary ways of escape." As we lose our health, our wealth, and our earthly relationships, we are left with God, and God alone.
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
Mon-Fri @ 12pm EDT // Sat @ 10am EDT
We invite you to join our dedicated and earnest group of praying participants of all ages from around the world that meet every day over Zoom to pray. At the start of each prayer call, a different individual will bring a brief Scriptural meditation. Here's the most recent:
