Tuesday, Week 6

Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
— James 5:13 (BSB)

Our prayers lay the track down which God’s power can come.
— Watchman Nee

O Jesus, we thank You that You have lived this human life of ours, and know all about it. You, too, are man. You were tempted in all points like as we are — and know all about temptation. You are able to sympathize with us, when we are struggling with the tempter. It is a comfort for us, to know that You understand all about our conflicts — and that we can cast ourselves upon Your sympathy. Help us today, O Jesus, to overcome in every temptation. Stand by us. Let us not sink away into the darkness of eternal death, in any hour of temptation.

We are glad, too, that You know all about sorrow. You have touched every depth of human experience. There is no sorrow that is not known to You, and which You can not understand. Life has sorrows for us. Sometimes they are very keen. No human friend can quite understand them. Our loved ones want to help us — but cannot assuage our grief, nor can they give us true comfort. Earth has no sufficient consolation for us.

So we turn to You, O Jesus, and ask You to help us in our sorrows. We want to bear them sweetly, without murmuring or complaining. We want to get the blessing which we know comes in every pain or suffering — but which so often Your children miss. We ask You to teach us how to suffer according to Your will. Give us the true comfort, which will enable us to endure quietly, whatever pain or trial we shall be called to endure. Help us to get the blessing in our sorrow. May we grow stronger and sweeter in every affliction. So may Your sympathy bless us, and may we be lifted up more and more fully into fellowship with You. We ask all in Your precious name, Jesus our Savior. Amen.