Early Morning Battles.

We all have them. Mine have been particularly hard to fight this week...and more than once, I have lost. But, by God's grace I have been made more and more aware of how desparately I need to meet with the Lord in the morning, and as George Meuller says, 'make my soul happy before God'.

That is why this post on the Sovereign Grace blog was so encouraging for me to read today! Here's a few excerpts: (it was a podcast by the SG leadership team)

C.J. Mahaney: Well, what brings me here so early in the morning is my need for the Savior, an awareness of my need for the Savior, and some eagerness that I will,
through my meditation on Scripture, freshly encounter the Savior. So that is
what brings me here. Although I need to add that I am never brought here apart
from a conflict in my soul. Indwelling sin is a particular and formidable
opponent against all practices that involve the spiritual disciplines. So this
does not take place effortlessly. I’m now 54 years old, so even after 35 years,
I can assure you that tomorrow morning when I first awaken, the first voice I
hear will be a voice of protest. That voice will be distinctly the presence of
indwelling sin appealing to me and seeking to persuade me to stay in bed. That
voice never subsides. And that voice also negotiates, so that if I make an
initial movement, that voice doesn’t subside and assume that that voice has
lost. No. That voice continues to exert effort, and then presents to me various
distractions.

.......

Jeff Purswell: So now I am no longer surprised. I can be discouraged at times, but the coldness that I feel just reminds me how badly I need God. Because apart from him I can do nothing. And apart from getting food for my soul this morning, I will be starving.…

Click on the link above to read the whole transcript...lots Biblical encouragement and practical suggestions.

Julie started a blog.... and is much better at posting than I am, haha.... so head on over and take a look! Lots of cute pictures of our nieces :)

quotes

Since I have not had much time to write any new posts....here are a few quotes from things I have been reading lately....(the bold parts are my emphasis)

...a parable Jesus tells his disciples "to show them that they should always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1)...."However when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) The real problem is not with God's unwillingness to answer, but with our faithless and lethargic refusal to ask.

[DA Carson, For the Love of God, meditation on Luke 18]

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone are very liable to grow drowsy. Keep Christian company and you will be kept wakeful by it and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven....let the eye of faith be constantly on Him. Let your heart be full of Him. Let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near the cross and you will not sleep.

[CS Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, meditation on 1 Thess 5:6]

Hers were not just a belief in a distant intellectual truth; her beliefswere part of her life. She gave her practical, everyday lilfe a lot of thought. This way her routine included the spaces needed to practice the presence of God - time to read His Word, to ponder it, and pray. She set aside her very best hour of teh day for "Bible reading and earnest prayer." She chose the time when she said "I feel quite fresh," so that she could give the Gospel "that full gaze of the mind we call attention.

[Susan Schaeffer Macauley referring to Charlotte Mason in For the Family's Sake]