Preface: BELOVED BRETHREN,—The more I think of and pray about the state of religion in this country, and all over the world, the deeper my conviction becomes that the low state of the spiritual life of Christians is due to the fact that they do not realize that the aim and object of conversion is to bring the soul even here on earth to a daily fellowship with the Father in heaven. When once this truth has been accepted, the believer will perceive how indispensable it is to the spiritual life of a Christian, to take time each day with God’s Word and in prayer, to wait upon God for His presence and His love to be revealed.
But how can Christians be taught this lesson, and to live in obedience to it? The first thing is that the minister himself must be convinced of the great need of daily fellowship with God, and of his calling to train his people to habits of prayer. His hearers must be brought under the impression through the preaching that it is not enough at conversion to accept forgiveness of sins, or even to surrender themselves to God. That is only a beginning. The young believer must understand that he has no power of his own to maintain his spiritual life. No, he needs each day to receive new grace from heaven through intercourse with the Lord Jesus. This cannot be obtained by a hasty prayer, or a superficial reading of a few verses from God’s Word. He must take time quietly and deliberately to come into God’s presence, to feel his weakness, and his need, and to wait upon God through His Holy Spirit, to renew the heavenly light and life in his heart. Then he may rightly expect to be kept by the power of Christ throughout the day, and all its temptations.
It has been my aim in writing this little book to help Christians to see the absolute necessity of intercourse with the Lord Jesus. Without this the joy and power of God’s Holy Spirit in daily life cannot be experienced. Many of God’s children long for a better life, but do not realize the need of giving God time day by day in the inner chamber through His Spirit to renew and sanctify their lives. Oh that every minister would lead and help those under his charge to grasp this great truth.
Beloved Brethren, meditate on this thought: The feeble state of my spiritual life is mainly due to the lack of time day by day in fellowship with God. The minister is the one who must teach this lesson to his people, and encourage them to believe that a different life is possible. New life will dawn in many a soul as a result of time spent in prayer alone with God.
To any reader who has found a blessing in reading this little book—I pray you, share the blessing with others. If you, have accepted the message that the Lord Jesus will from day to day grant you His presence and love—pass it on to others. However weak and impotent you feel, your faith will be strengthened as you help others to realize the need of fellowship with Jesus daily.
As we think of the need of our country and Church, as we think of souls around us, as we think of the extension of God’s Kingdom, we ask you, O Christian, to help us find volunteers, who, as true soldiers of the Cross, will persevere continually in prayer, till God pours out His blessing upon us,—Your Servant in the love of Christ and in prayer. ~Andrew Murray
72 pages.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andrew Murray (1828 - 1917) was a missionary, statesman, educator, revivalist, evangelist, and pastor during the nineteenth century. He is one of the best loved and most widely read writers on the deeper Christian life.
It was a choice of logic to become a minister, but during the course of his studies, he met the God of the Bible and came to know Him more intimately than most. The theme of his life was, “May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence, and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for him to fill full of his Spirit and his love.”
His personal knowledge and insight of God’s inward grace was evident in all his writings. With his extraordinary skill at putting his spiritual insight into the written word, it is no surprise that he was used mightily by God in his lifetime, with the effects of his literature still having far-reaching results in the hearts and lives of Christians today.
