It is not the law, and not the book, not the knowledge of what is right, that works obedience, but the personal influence of God and His living fellowship. And even so it is not the knowledge of what God has promised, but the presence of God Himself as the Promiser, that awakens faith and trust in prayer.

The presence and the power of the glorified Christ will come to them that are of a humble spirit.

If Christ is to give Himself wholly to me, He must know that He has me wholly for Himself;.

Oh, become nothing in deep reality, and, as a worker, study only one thing – to become poorer and lower and more helpless, that Christ may work all in you.

Pride renders faith impossible.

The one object God had in making you a branch is that Christ may through you bring life to men. Your personal salvation, your business and care for your family, are entirely subordinate to this. Your first aim in life, your first aim every day, should be to know how Christ desires to carry out His purpose in you.

Unless we are willing to pay the price, to sacrifice time and attention and seemingly legitimate or necessary tasks for the sake of the spiritual gifts, we need not look for much power from above in our work.

I spoke of an Army on the point of entering an enemy’s territories. Answering the question as to the cause of delay: ‘Waiting for supplies.’ The answer might also have been: ‘Waiting for instructions, ‘Waiting for orders.’ If the last dispatch had not been received, with the final orders of the commander in chief, the army dared not move. Even so in the Christian life – as deep as the need of waiting for supplies is that of waiting for instructions.

Workers, take your place every day at the feet of Jesus, in the blessed peace and rest that come from the knowledge – I have no care, my cares are His! I have no fear, He cares for all my fears.

The reality is that a heart desire for prayer is lacking. Many do not know how to spend half an hour with God! It is not that they absolutely do not pray; they may pray every day – but they have no joy in prayer. Joy is the sign that God is everything to you.