'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — November 4

We must engage the shield of faith for our defence against the fiery darts of Satan's temptations. There are three acts of faith which bind God (though we speak with reverence), to help us— (1.) The prayer of faith opens your case with God, and calls in help from heaven. Our victory must drop from heaven, but it waits until prayer calls for it. Fortify your prayer from God's promises. Prayer is God's promises turned into an argument. Plead your relationship with God. Has God taken you into his family? Have you chosen him for your God? What a strong argument is this: ‘I am yours, O Lord, save me!' Who will look after a child if not his father? (2.) The faith of expectation engages God to help us. When you have been with God, expect good from him. For the lack of this many a prayer is lost. If you do not believe, why do you pray? If you believe, why do you not expect? By praying, you depend upon God, but by not expecting, you unravel your prayer. O Christian, offer your prayer in holy expectation upon the credit of the promise! God opens the door of his promises unto poor sinners fleeing from the rage of their lust. (3.) The faith of action sets the soul at work. Jehoshaphat prayed and established his faith on the word of God's promise, and then marched out under a victory banner. God who has promised you victory calls you to arms and plans to use your own hands in the battle. 'Get up’, said the Lord to Joshua, 'Why have you fallen on your face' (Josh. 7:10). God liked his prayer, but there was something else for him to do before the Amorites would be overcome. Christian, there is also something for your faith to do besides praying and expecting, and that is searching carefully into your heart, whether there is any neglect on your part, such as an Achan, for which you are being worsted by sin.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian In Complete Armour, 11:87-91
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