Last week, I ended my article by talking about spiritual experiences.If we are not careful, we will end up with another theory in addition to all the theories we have known so far.In order to strengthen what we must believe about spiritual experiences, let me remind you of the life of David.He was a man of God.He was also a man of trials and afflictions.Though he suffered much, far beyond any one of us, he did not fall into despair, for he remembered the past which led him to a peaceful end (1 Samuel 17:34-37; Psalm 37:37; 77:10-11; 120:1).When we are baby Christians, we are weak and fall into wrongs.However, God does not leave us alone in such times and works in our lives lovingly and tenderly to build us up.Mature Christians have gone through that stage and are able to look back and to remember such grace they have received before.It reminds me of the importance of being grateful to God for His grace and not forgetting all the benefits we have received from Him.Paul’s testimony is clear on this lesson in 2 Corinthians 1:10, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”In contrast, there are people who fail to learn from their experiences.One of such examples is the nation of Israel.She sinned against God and was punished, but she was still foolish and repeated the same sins again and again.Proverbs 1:22 is a good example: “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”Positive and beneficial spiritual experiences will help us become godly and mature.

The use of company

The fifth private means of grace is the use of company.We are not meant to be alone.We are social beings, and we, Christians, are members of one family.By being together with others we develop and mold our character qualities.If we were not inter-related and inter-connected with others, how could we learn to love, forgive, be patient, kind, gentle, all such human attributes we must keep, develop, and exercise?We call God “our Father.”Then, how can we isolate ourselves from the rest of the family and still call Him “our Father?”We are to strive to gather together for worship.If we are alone and refuse to be together with others, how can we understand the meanings of compassion, reconciliation, and Christian duties for one another?

Private prayers

Prayer is a calling upon God.Thus, prayer is a mark of our fellowship and relationship with God.Through private prayers, we develop our intimate relationship with Him and learn to trust in Him.Private prayers do have some parts in them.

1. Thanksgiving: Psalm 50:23 says, “Whoso offereth praise [thanksgiving] glorifieth me: and to him that orderethhis conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”Thanksgiving draws us to love and praise God because we feel blessed and comforted by benefits God has bestowed upon us in favor.We cannot but be godly by being thankful to the Lord.It is because we are thankful for the things we do remember, and our remembrance is of the benefits we have received from God.One of such examples is a leper who was thankful for the cleansing the Lord had granted to him (Luke 17:15).If we do not have any knowledge of God’s blessings upon us, how can we be thankful to him?We give our thanks to the Lord when our hearts are joyful and glad.When the children of God returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity, they were thankful.Psalm 126:1-2, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.^{1 2} Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”Rogers suggests three duties requiring Christians to be thankful: (1) continuing in our love for God, (2) a desire to set forth God’s glory in words professing and confessing His goodness, and (3) further progress in obedience and walking worthy of His kindness.
2. Confession of sin: “Confession is an acknowledging of ourselves to be guilty” (Psalm 32:5-6; 1 John 1:8-9) and “deserving of God’s wrath and His many punishments for our grievous faults and offenses” (Kindle loc., 1673 of 2097).“It is an acknowledging of our sins with a free and humble bewailing of them before the Lord.For those sins which are unknown to us, we do this in a general manner; but for those which we do know (according to their nature), we confess specifically.”There are four parts in the confession of sin: “(1) We feel our sins odious and burdensome to us, (2) when we accuse ourselves of our sins to God, (3) when having examined our life, we confess that we stand at His mercy, deserving to be condemned, and (4) when we abase ourselves by confession, so that we are humbled and our pride is abated” (loc., 1678).We can find good examples from David (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:4-5), Daniel (Daniel 9:5), the prodigal son (Luke 15:17, 19-21), and a publican (Luke 18:13). Through honest confession of sin, we will refrain ourselves from sinning, or even if we fall into sin, we will not stay in that condition for long.We will be able to detect them early, if they are nestled within our hearts.The confession of sin is a powerful help to strengthen our godly life.Confession of sin must come with a willing heart to forsake sins.Proverbs 28:9 says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” 
3. Request: it is “the part of prayer in which we earnestly pour out supplications unto God in contrition of heart according to His will with a comforting hope that through Christ we will be heard; and therefore, forsaking the sin which might hinder our supplications, we wait patiently” (loc., 1707).When we make our requests to God in prayers, there are two necessary things in them: (1) contrition of heart (1 Samuel 1:15; Luke 18:13; Matthew 5:3; Psalm 145:19), (2) praying according to His will.We pray as God allows us to pray, according to His word, and therefore agreeable to His will.1 John 5:14 says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (cf. John 14:13; 15:7; 16:24).We can pray boldly because we come to Him in faith and confidence (James 1:6).God’s promise is very sure in John 16:24, “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
4. Waiting patiently: after we make our requests known to God, we need to wait patiently upon God for the outcome.If we are not careful, we expect nothing less than what we have prayed for, and such a selfish attitude makes us impatient.In times of waiting, patience is a near companion of faith.

By thanksgiving, we praise and honor God for all the things we have received.We confess that God is good and His mercies are abundant.By confession of sins, we acknowledge ourselves to be guilty persons and debtors to God.It makes us humble.To the people of prayer, there is no place for pride in them.If they give all the credits of their lives to God, then how can they be proud of themselves?To the contrary, they will lift up their hearts and minds to give thanks to God for His blessings and mercies.If we are people of prayer, then we will commit all things to God.Even when we fail and fall, we shall rise again by the prayer of faith.Thus, can we safely say that prayer is a “present remedy to the oppressed heart and a preserver of the godly mind and a giver of strength to the weak and a special means to make a man fit to live in every condition which God sets him” (loc., 1767).Prayer is a mighty help to the godly.

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

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