the Prayer book

Andrew Murray and A.W. Tozer must have come out of the same bean pod. They are strikingly similar to me — the kind of authors that say simply what it means to be Christ-like. I sit and read and shake my head along with all they say, wondering all along why I did not see such simple-but-profound insight before.

I borrowed this copy from a friend/co-worker/pastor. I might just have to get one of my own. I've never been one to get my prayer life in order, and I have to admit I came to this book hoping it would do so.

I was reading a pamphlet sent out by Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) which quoted some of Murray. I shared it with my pastor-friend and the next day he brought me the book.

This is the quote that caught my eye. Hope it catches your heart:

"... He is waiting patiently while he listens to (God's own elect).
"Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter
rain" (James 5:7).
The farmer longs for his harvest, but knows that it must have its full
amount of sunshine and rain, and he has long patience. A child so
often wants to pick the half-ripe fruit; the farmer knows how to wait
until the proper time.
And it is the Father, in whose hand are the times and seasons, who
knows the moment when the soul is ripened to that fullness of faith in
which it can really take and keep the blessing.
The insight into this truth leads the believer to cultivate the
corresponding dispositions: patience and faith, waiting and
anticipating, are the secret of his perseverance. ...
... Christian, give God time. He will perfect that which concerns you."



Andrew Murray (1828-1917) served for 60 years in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa.