What is Prayer? Prayer is Adoration

Prayer is ADORATION. 

By adoration we mean worship, reverence, esteem, respect, love. The soul adores God — as it beholds his greatness and his goodness. When a person beholds the beauty of God's perfections, the glory of His majesty, and the wonders of His works — he experiences a feeling of awe and of filial fear and dread. When he gives utterance to his feelings, he cries with the seraphim, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is full of his glory!"

We have cause to fear there is great deficiency of adoration in prayer, especially in private prayer. Perhaps in silent meditation, there is not enough admiration of God's exalted nature and marvelous works. There is not a due ascription to him of glory and honor. Jesus said, "When you pray, say, Our Father in Heaven,Hallowed be your name." As we bow down before Jehovah, oh, may there be not only the word "hallowed" on our lips — but a hallowed feeling in our soul.

We hear the Psalmist in his meditation exclaiming: "Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty! He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent, and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants." Psalm 104:1-3.

Much adoring prayer is recorded in the Scriptures. Listen to the devotional song of Moses after the deliverance at the Red Sea. "Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power: your right hand, O Lord, has dashed in pieces the enemy!" "Who is like unto you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you — glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!" Exodus 15:6, 11.

The angels are engaged in the prayer of adoration. They are shouting, "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might — be unto our God forever and ever!" They are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb before the throne of God, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you only are holy!" May the spirit ofMoses and the angels fall upon our souls, as we approach the mercy seat in prayer.

WHAT IS PRAYER PART 1

What is Prayer?

Prayer is a COMING to God. Some Bible expressions are: "He who comes to God." "He who comes to me." "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden." "He is able also to save those to the uttermost — who come unto God by him." "Come to the waters." "Come buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk." "Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

God is the Christian's tender Father. In prayer, we should come to Him — as a child to its father. God loves this familiarity. This is not irreverence. We can come to Him familiarly — and yet reverently.

We can conceive of God both as the Supreme Ruler of the universe on His throne — and as our tender Father by our side. We should be so conscious of His being with us, that when we go into our prayer closets — we shall almost feel like holding the door ajar to admit Him! Then a little closer still, we can conceive of Him as being in our own hearts. We should turn our voice inward and speak to Him in our own heart. We see Him then, not only as a ruler in Heaven — but as a ruler in our own hearts. When we come to God, we should have this view of Him.

We should come to God in prayer and speak to Him, thanking Him or making a request of Him — as familiarly as with the closest friend. In true prayer, we talk personally with God; we embrace Him as a bosom companion; we see Him and hear Him and speak to Him and feel His presence — as we do that of a friend. This seeing and hearing and making Him a person with us — is in the province of faith. In prayer we close our eyes to things that are seen — and open them to things unseen. Prayer is a coming to God and embracing Him — a drinking in of His life and spirit, a leaning on His bosom, and feeling the beating of His heart warm with love.

Prayer is the Christian pilgrim's staff
To walk with God all day!

Enoch walked with God three hundred years. That long walk we do not suppose was a walk in silence — but a walk in converse. We do not know what was said, and it is not God's purpose that we should know — but we can come to Him, and He will teach us what to say.

Prayer is more than bending the knee and saying some words. It is the shutting of the closet door — and being ALONE WITH GOD. It is the coming of the soul, tremulous with love and holy awe — before His sacred presence; and at the same time — a talking to Him in childlike innocence and confidence.

The little child climbs upon its father's knee and, leaning upon his bosom, delighting itself in his companionship. There in the sacred silence, the heart seems to talk with heart, and the spirit of the child — is fashioned into the likeness of the parent! Just so, prayer is Heavenly Father and His redeemed child — in the most intimate converse and sweetest companionship. There he finds rest.

Wrapped in the bosom of his God,
His head upon his breast,
Forgetful of the cares of life,
He finds the perfect rest!

Charles Orr 

(1844-1913)

Common Proverbs and Wise Sayings

A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A friend in need, is a friend indeed.

A good beginning, makes a good ending.

A house divided cannot stand.

A house is not a home.

A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

A man's home is his castle.

A penny for your thoughts.

A penny saved, is a penny earned.

A picture paints a thousand words.

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

A problem shared, is a problem halved.

A stitch in time saves nine.

A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men.

A watched pot never boils.

A woman's place is in the home.

A woman's work is never done.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Actions speak louder than words.

Advice when most needed, is least heeded.

After a storm comes a calm.

All good things must come to an end.

All roads lead to Rome.

All that glitters is not gold.

All is well, that ends well.

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

A man's home is his castle.

An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure.

Appearances are deceptive.

April showers bring May flowers.

As soon as man is born, he begins to die.

As you make your bed, so must you lie in it.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Ask no questions, and hear no lies.

Bad news travels fast.

Barking dogs seldom bite.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty is only skin-deep.

Beggars cannot be choosers.

Behind every great man, there's a great woman

Better late, than never.

Better safe, than sorry.

Better die with honor, than live with shame.

Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know.

Better to be alone, than in bad company.

Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Blood is thicker than water.

Boys will be boys.

Business before pleasure.

Charity begins at home.

Children are poor men's riches.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Count your blessings.

Crime does not pay.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Dead men have no friends.

Dead men tell no tales.

Death closes all doors.

Death is the great leveler.

Death pays all debts.

Diligence is the mother of good fortune.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Divide and conquer.

Do not wear out your welcome.

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Don't burn your bridges behind you.

Don't change horses in midstream.

Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.

Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Don't go near the water until you learn how to swim.

Don't put all yours eggs in one basket.

Don't rock the boat.

Don't try to walk before you can crawl.

Don't upset the apple-cart.

Don't wash your dirty linen in public.

Early to bed and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Easier said, than done.

Easy come, easy go.

Empty vessels make the most noise.

Enough is as good as a feast.

Enough is enough.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

Every family has a skeleton in the closet.

Every garden has some weeds.

Every man has his faults.

Every man has his price.

Every man is his own worst enemy.

Every picture tells a story.

Every stick has two ends.

Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Experience is the best teacher.

Experience is the mother of wisdom.

Failing to plan, is planning to fail.

Failure teaches success.

Faint heart never won fair lady.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Fear of death, is worse than death itself.

Fight fire with fire.

Finders keepers, losers weepers.

First come, first served.

First things first.

First think, and then speak.

Fish and guests smell after three days.

Flattery will get you nowhere.

Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Give credit where credit is due.

Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile.

Good fences make good neighbors.

Goodness is better than beauty.

Gray hairs are death's blossoms.

Great minds think alike.

Hard work never did anyone any harm.

Haste makes waste.

He who is master of himself, will soon be master of others.

He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.

He who marries for money, will earn it.

He who plants a tree, plants for posterity.

He who plants thorns, must never expect to gather roses.

He who seeks trouble, never misses.

He who laughs last, laughs longest.

He who would climb the ladder, must begin at the bottom.

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

History repeats itself.

Home is where the heart is.

Honesty is the best policy.

If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

If God had meant us to fly, he'd have given us wings.

If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again.

If you can't beat them, join them.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

In the midst of life, we are in death.

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

It never rains, but it pours.

It is a bold mouse that nestles in the cat's ear.

It is an equal failing to trust everybody--and to trust nobody.

It's best to be on the safe side.

It's better to give, than to receive.

It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

It's never too late.

It's no use locking the stable door, after the horse has bolted.

It's not worth crying over spilt milk.

It's the early bird that gets the worm.

It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

It takes one to know one.

It takes two to tango.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

Keep your mouth shut, and your ears open.

Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Lend your money, and lose your friend.

Let bygones be bygones.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Let the buyer beware.

Let the punishment fit the crime.

Life is what you make it.

Like father, like son.

Like mother, like daughter.

Live and learn.

O, Christ, in Thee My Soul Hath Found!

John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

What a breath-taking truth! “I am come,” Just another way of saying “Before Abraham was, I AM.” All others began to be; our Lord is pre-temporal, definitely coming out
of the eternities for a definite purpose: “That they might have life.”This quality of life which the Biologist from Eternity gives, 
increases in quantity forever – Abundantly!”

The abundant life which Christ offers is the possession alone 
of those whom He designates “My Sheep.” It is not an entering into
material blessedness. It is a spiritual fullness conditional altogether 
upon likeness to the Lord, and walking in that obedience 

toward God wherein He walked. Its first condition is the acceptance
of the Cross whereby the world is crucified unto the believer and
the believer unto the world. But, as this separation is recognized 
and accepted, and the life is wholly yielded and kept subject
to the will of the Father, the Master’s incoming and indwelling meets
every longing and every need. Then alone will be understood the meaning
of the promise of our text: “I am come that they might have life, 
and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Have we come to the fountain of life? Are we drinking of its fullness?
Are we living in His love? This is the life of our spirit; the health 
of our body; the secret of our joy!

May we seek this overflowing life, and become “channels only,” with “
all His wondrous power flowing through us” so that He can use us
every day and every hour! 


Rev. Evan H. Hopkins

Come to the everlasting spring and drink freely. It never runs dry!
“Though millions their thirst are now slaking,
It never runs dry,
And millions may still come partaking,
It never runs dry!”

Springs in the Valley, 

Behold the Lamb of God-Part 2

Behold the Lamb of God! He is set forth for this end. He is presented to us for this purpose. The gospel places him before the sinner's eye, and keeps him there, as God's only ordinance of salvation, and cries, "Look and be saved! Look and be saved, all you ends of the earth!" Let us then fix the mind on Jesus, and keep it fixed there. Let us make him the daily, hourly object of our faith. Life comes by looking. Peace comes by looking. Joy in the Lord comes by looking. In a word, looking to Jesus as dying for our sins, in our stead--will . . .
bring a sense of pardon into the conscience,
spread joy and peace over the soul, and
fill the heart with love.
in life, and all its joys;
in sickness, and all its pains;
in adversity, with all its sorrows;
and in death, with all its agonies.

Let us behold the Lamb--and trust in his blood alone, for the present, complete, and everlasting pardon of all our sins.

Let us behold the Lamb--and love him for taking our nature, that he might save our souls.

Let us behold the Lamb--and make use of him to remove our guilt, banish our fears, and deliver us from the dread of death.

Let us behold the Lamb--and recommend him to all around us, as able to save to the uttermost, and as willing to save them, if they are willing to be saved by him.

"Behold the Lamb of God!" beloved reader, for God bids you, and commands you to believe on his name. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will greatly benefit you, and always benefit you too. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will please the Father if you do--he takes an infinite delight in his beloved Son--and he wishes us to take a delight in him also. Behold the Lamb of God, for in so doing you will be enabled to conquer Satan, overcome the world, and surmount the fear of death.

By this we conquer, namely, "Looking unto Jesus." Let us therefore look to him . . .

Behold the lamb of God! Part 1

Behold the Lamb of God!

Jesus Is God's Lamb. In his nature and character, we may see all the excellent qualities of the Lamb. He is holy--free from all blemish. In him is no defect. He is without sin, and full of grace. His entire nature is pure, and spotless--an offering fit for God. He is meek--none need fear him. Bruised, humbled, and afflicted, he has learned what suffering is, and is now able to sympathize with sufferers. He is not a lion--but a lamb. Who would fear to approach, to touch, or to become familiar with a lamb? He is patient, bearing the opposition and contradiction of sinners, without complaint; and bearing the wrath of God in solemn silence, or with deep submission.

He is the gentle One. He calls a child to him, and makes it his text. He receives children from mothers and relatives, heals and blesses them. He allows children to follow him, proclaim him, and sing hosannas to him. The bruised reed he will not break, the smoking flax he will not quench--nor one applicant for mercy, will he refuse.

As a lamb, he was intended to be a sacrificial victim. He was to die, the just for the unjust. A lamb was to make atonement for sinful human lions, bears, and a generation of vipers. O mystery of mercy! O wondrous love! God required a lamb, whose life was equivalent to all the lives that had been forfeited by sin. He demanded blood, worth all the blood that had been or would be shed. The victim he required could not be found, therefore he promised to provide one. On that promise, the hope of all believers hung. On that promise, the faith of all that were saved was built.

God himself was to provide a lamb. That lamb was to be put to death. The putting to death of that lamb, was to atone for, and put away sin. That lamb was to be an all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, an infinite atonement for transgression. The lamb promised, was now provided. John saw him, pointed him out, and directed his hearers to him, crying with a loud voice, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

That lamb was sacrificed, was sacrificed for us, and is now presented to us, is now placed before us. He is evidently and clearly set forth, as though he was crucified among us. He is man's accepted substitute. He is God's obedient servant. He is the sacrifice to satisfy God's justice for man's sin. He is God's Son, who did his Father's will; by which all believers are sanctified, by the offering of his precious body once. The Lamb is God--God in our nature--God with us--God in our place--God atoning for our sin--God putting away our sins by the sacrifice of himself! O mystery of mysteries! O wonder of wonders! Let us

Things That Make You GO Hmmm!

Early in 2006 God showed me in a beautiful vision how those who belong to His army have to be trained here and now and not after death. He emphasized in the preparation taking place right here as we live this life. The past month has been so hard for me and every step I take has been a major challenge. I am tired of the training, tired of the hardship and wish I could live a Christian life more relaxed. So, I guess, in my own way, I have been rebelling. This morning, I fought tears while meditating on His word, purpose and His way. Then the Holy Spirit said to me:

"The more things changed the more they stay the same.

• Adam and Eve thought they could take over for God, they let Satan direct them. As a result, they lost their spiritual blessings and became separated from God.

• The Israelites were saved by God, but rejected His way in the wilderness. So, they all died there,  never tasted the blessings God had in mind for them through Canaan’s life.

• Most of those who claim to believe in Christ, reject His way and purpose as well. So, you too you are free to choose.  Immediately, I found strength, no more teary eyes and I stopped feeling pity for myself. I was surprised to see what I was going through the past month was a form of pity party as well."

Believe it or not, until the Spirit of God enlightened me, I truly felt that it was okay for me to be tired because I am just a human being. I never realized I was living with a rebellious heart where I was questioning the wisdom, His plan and purpose. In essence, I was telling Him that I am tired of carrying the cross as I follow. I was telling Him that I was tired of living by faith and wish that I could live by sight too. Living by faith and not by sight is hard because God is not bound by time, does not owe us an explanation and He does not have to keep our comfort in mind. We simply have to keep trusting and keep walking in spirit, knowing that He is faithful.

We can never know God too much or too well and we can never take this journey for granted or relax through it. Because if we do, Satan will have the last word. The more we become spiritually mature,  the craftier Satan becomes. Unless the Spirit shows us, we have no idea that we are being duped by him.

This morning, the Spirit of God was really abrupt with me. I thought to myself, what's up with that? You are supposed to be gentle. The truth is, I was being disrespectful to God and the Spirit's business and allegiance is to God first and does not take kindly those who do not revere Him constantly. So, sometimes,the Spirit of God simply does not cajole us.He simply put the rude reality of our choices in front of us and tells us to go wild, but choose well......