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.
"O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" Deuteronomy 3:24.
What an unusual thing for Moses to declare at the end of his life. "O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness." This is a man who saw the great plagues in Egypt. He watched the parting of the Red Sea. He spoke with God through the burning bush and witnessed the writing of the Ten Commandments into tablets of stone by the very finger of God. All this, and he would declare that God has only BEGUN to show His greatness? Yes! You see, for a Christian, no matter how much we think we've seen of the power of God, we've only scratched the surface of His greatness. We will never plumb the depths. We will never fully comprehend. We will never "reach the end" of knowing God. God is infinitely great and greatly to be enjoyed! Reading this passage reminded me of what George Whitefield wrote in his letters just a few years before his death.
"Fifty-two years old last Saturday and yet, O loving, ever-loving, altogether lovely Jesus, how little, yea how very little have I done and suffered for thee! Indeed, I am ashamed of myself: I blush and am confounded. Tomorrow, God willing, and Thursday also, with many hundreds more, I will begin to begin to be a Christian."
Imagine that. This is the great George Whitefield who preached in the open air to crowds of people in the order of tens of thousands in England. Under God, he was greatly used to see the First Great Awakening ushered into America. His influence was felt on David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and Samuel Davies. And in the twilight of his life, he has the audacity to say, "I will begin to begin to be a Christian?" Yes, friends, yes. Let us bask in the immeasurable greatness of our God this day. Let us be completely taken up with Him and His infinite glory. And let that guide our view of God during all seasons of life.
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:
