Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20

DO NOT forget the majesty and glory of Him who asks for admission!
In the following verse, He declares that He is able to give the right of sitting with Himself on His Throne. He stands, that some day we may sit! O child of two worlds, shut your ear to the chatterings and noise of this passing age, and listen to Him who stands at the door of your life and knocks!

Of course, we know that the Saviour never withdraws Himself from hearts that are really His own. He abides in them, as they abide in Him. But with us there may be ebbs as well as flows. The current may drop from feet to inches. The light may linger in the sky, while clouds obscure the face of the sun. The heat of the body may remain, but the extremities may become chilled. It is under these circumstances that the Lord of all worlds comes to the door of our poor tenement, and stands, and knocks, and asks for admission.

We may expect His knock when our love is cooling. Once our hearts beat quickly when we heard His approaching step; now, when He is at hand, we keep Him waiting on the doorstep till His head is filled with dew, and His locks with the drops of night. Do we not all know what it is to be "neither hot nor cold"? Somehow our heart has gone dead! It is then that we may expect to hear the knock of Christ. He only asks us to admit Him and He will restore the soul to love, and love to the soul.

We may expect His knock when we must go forth from this world. The moment comes when the post will present us with a letter like that received by Christiana: "The Master expects thee to stand in His Presence, in clothes of immortality, within ten days." The same summons will come to Mr. Honest and Mr. Ready-to-halt; to Mr. Despondency and to Miss Much-afraid; to Mr. Stand-fast and Mr. Valiant-for-truth. But in each case there will be the accompanying knock of Jesus, saying: "Fear not, I will be with you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine."  (Our Daily Walk)

​Personal note: During the years I worked caring for the elderly, as I listened to them, and watched their daily habits, I discerned those who had not opened their hearts to Jesus, and knew they weren't saved. I'd pray for them, and look for opportunities to speak to them about the Lord, and ask them if they'd like to pray the prayer of salvation. Some were happy to do so, and I'd be able to sit and read a scripture to them at times, when they couldn't sleep. But, there were other's who would refuse, and made it clear they had no desire to have anything to do with Jesus, I'd honor their choices, but with sadness, because it meant their eternity was going to be an eternity in hell, without Christ. Jesus never forces anyone to follow Him, he only invites us. It's up to us, if we open the door of our hearts and allow Him in, or not.
People may be the most loving, kind, and generous people, and be looked up to by many-but it doesn't change the fact that unless they have opened their hearts door to Jesus, they will face eternity in hell. When the day of their death comes, if they have never wanted anything to do with Jesus during their life, the Lord will honor their choice, and they will spend eternity without Him. Hell is a real place, but, a great many do not believe it, until they find themselves there-and it's too late to change their minds. The story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus is a mirror to us of this fact.
But, for the believer, there is great confidence in walking with Jesus-read on.

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isa 43:1-2

​The quality of fear is described in the Scriptures under various aspects.
Thus it is spoken of sometimes as a feeling to be exercised. “Be not highminded, but fear;” and again as a thing to be avoided, “Fear not.” There is the coward’s fear, which cannot bear the very sight of danger. Such is the fear that makes a man shrink from examining into the true state of his soul before God, and that makes men hide from themselves the thought of death. There is another kind of fear, which never shows itself till the time of actual trial comes; beforehand, it is arrogant and boastful, but sinks into despondency and despair when it is put to the test. God’s people are free from both of these; they are deeply conscious alike of their danger and of the inadequacy of their own strength to meet it: but they stand fast, “strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” A righteous, godly fear, the believer has; but the cowardice of the world, which is loud to boast, and slow to act, and quick to doubt, he must never know. It becomes neither the dignity of his calling, nor the faithfulness of his God. The believer and the unbeliever are sharply separated in respect of the objects of their fear. The timid child and the courageous man both have fear; but the one fears a shadow: the other, that which, not to fear, would show the absence of a reasonable courage.
What things ought we to fear? Shall we fear the opposition and hatred of the world; those who can injure the body, but cannot touch the soul; pain, or sickness, or temporal misfortune? Those may do so who make this world their all, but not the believer, who recognises in them the medicines of the soul. Shall we fear the devil? Not with God on our side. Or death? Not so; for it is the gate of higher life, and introduces us to life’s crown of glory. He who fears God need know no other fear. Such fear is not a base naked terror; it becomes a wondering reverence, and loses itself in love; for He is not against His people, but for them; “Fear not, for I am with thee.” But the absence of this fear makes everything else fearful.

II. THE REASON ASSIGNED. “Thou art mine.” These words were spoken to Israel after the flesh; yet, as the relations named—Creator, Redeemer, and Saviour—are not peculiar to them, but are realised by every believing heart, every believer may take to himself his share in this animating promise; for all these relations are adduced, not as reasons for anything we are to pay to God, but as reasons for that which we are to receive from Him,—they form the ground of our confidence (Psa_119:94). The certainty of our hope does not depend on our holding God, but on God’s holding us; it is not in our power to realise His promise at all times, but we may rest on the immutability of that promise (2Ti_2:13). The believer’s hope is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” To see to what a strong rock that anchor holds, turn your thoughts to the relationship spoken of in these words, “I am thy Creator, thy Redeemer, thy Saviour;” “I have called thee by thy name,” words which imply a personal, immediate interest. All is His work; the goodness which created, the grace which has quickened, corrected, strengthened, taught, sanctified, has all come from Him!

III. THE PROTECTION PROMISED (Isa_43:2). This does not consist of any absence of trial and danger; the expressions of the text rather imply their presence, many in number, and varied in kind (Psa_69:1-2). No extraordinary interposition will preserve the child of God from those miseries “to which man is born as the sparks fly upwards.” The protection promised consists in the constant presence with the soul of its unseen but Almighty Saviour (Psa_16:8; Heb_13:5-6).

CONCLUSION.—Contrast the condition of the believer, and of the unbeliever. Affliction is the lot of all; but while a man loses nothing, in the calculation of earthly happiness, by becoming a follower of the Saviour, in the calculation of heavenly happiness he gains all. There is more sunshine, even in this world, to the righteous than to the unrighteous. Both have to share the “ills that flesh is heir to;” but what a difference in the strength of the two to meet them! If for a moment the Christian’s heart sinks, then the promise comes back to him like a refreshing breath from above—“Fear not; for I have redeemed thee.” (Edward Garbett, M.A.: Sermons, pp. 204–222).

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8

"Go to the ant." Tammerlane used to relate to his friends an anecdote of his early life. "I once" he said, "was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a ruined building, where I sat alone many hours. Desiring to divert my mind from my hopeless condition, I fixed my eyes on an ant that was carrying a grain of corn larger than itself up a high wall. I numbered the efforts it made to accomplish this object. The grain fell sixty-nine times to the ground; but the insect persevered, and the seventieth time it reached the top. This sight gave me courage at the moment, and I never forgot the lesson." -- The King’s Business
Prayer which takes the fact that past prayers have not been answered as a reason for languor, has already ceased to be the prayer of faith. To the prayer of faith the fact that prayers remain unanswered is only evidence that the moment of the answer is so much nearer. From first to last, the lessons and examples of our Lord all tell us that prayer which cannot persevere and urge its plea importunately, and renew, and renew itself again, and gather strength from every past petition, is not the prayer that will prevail. -- William Arthur
Rubenstein, the great musician, once said, "If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notice it." It is the old doctrine, "Practice makes perfect." We must continue believing, continue praying, continue doing His will. Suppose along any line of art, one should cease practicing, we know what the result would be. If we would only use the same quality of common sense in our religion that we use in our everyday life, we should go on to perfection.
The motto of David Livingstone was in these words, "I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose." By unfaltering persistence and faith in God he conquered.
(Our Daily Walk)

​There are three phases in our Lord’s teaching about prayer-that of Mat_6:1-34, Luk_18:1-43, and the words of Joh_14:1-31; Joh_15:1-27. In Luk_18:1-8 He exhorts to uniformity and urgency. There is an aspect of prayer that we are in danger of overlooking when the skies are blue and the sun is shining, and that is, the need of holy violence.
This lesson is taught, in the parable of this paragraph, by a striking contrast which may be stated thus: If an unjust and ungodly judge will finally grant a just petition, out of base and selfish motives and merely to save himself from being worried by a defenseless and oppressed woman, how much more shall the just and merciful God hear the cry and avenge the cause of those whom He loves. If answers to certain prayers, which we have offered in an agony of tears, are slow in coming, we may be sure, either that the time is not ripe, or that He is going to do something better.  (F.B. Meyer)

​Yet when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith upon earth - Yet notwithstanding all the instances both of his long suffering and of his justice, whenever he shall remarkably appear, against their enemies in this age or in after ages, how few true believers will be found upon earth!  (John Wesley)

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's 1Cor 3:23
BUILD ON THE SURE FOUNDATION

​We are called upon to contribute our share to the building of saved souls which is rising through the ages, to be an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph_2:21-22. But in addition, we must not neglect the building of our own character on the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ. God has placed Him to be the foundation of every structure which shall stand firm in all the tests of fire through which we are destined to pass. We must needs go on building day by day. Whatever we do or say is another stone or brick. It is for us to choose which heap of material we take it from; whether from that of the wood, hay, or stubble, or from that of the gold, silver, or precious stones.
​
All things serve the man or woman who serves Christ. The lowliest life may be a link in a chain of golden ministry which binds earth and heaven. Our Lord was constantly described in the Old Testament as the Servant of God. He said that He had come down to earth to do His Father’s will. “I am among you as he that serveth.” When we serve Him as He serves the great purposes of God, then everything begins to minister to us. The extremes of existence, of creation, and of duration, all serve us. F.B. Meyer

"Christ’s servants are the lords of time and eternity, "things present or things to come." All things present, the light and the dark, the gains and the losses, all will be recognized if we have the wisdom that comes from submission to Jesus Christ’s will as being ours, and ministering to our highest blessing. And then "all things to come"; the dim vague future shall be for each of us like some sunlit ocean stretching shoreless to the horizon; every little ripple flashing with its own bright sunshine, and all bearing us onwards to the Throne that stands on the sea of glass mingled with fire." 
​(Maclaren, Christian Commonwealth, Dec. 2nd, 1886)

​"Ye are Christ's." You are his by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; his by his bloody purchase, for he counted down the price for your redemption; his by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to him; his by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of his brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's, and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you his features of love and his countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ's!"   (Charles Haydon Spurgeon-morning and evening devotions)

Note: In the right column there's new material under "Resources"- several audio books on the subject of prayer and meditation. Just click the links and it will take you to the videos to listen to and enjoy. These are from serious Christians in history who sought the Lord in prayer, and wrote about what they learned in their walk with God. I'm sure you will find them helpful. More will be added when I come across them.

 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
​ 2Sam 11:1-4 (it's recommended to read the entire chapter)

David's life was one of many paradoxes, many flaws, imperfections, many tests, trials, and yet God called him a man after his own heart. 
​
In chapter 11 of 2Samuel we are given the account of his fall with Bathsheba. Some important points in this story are:
It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. In this region wars weren't normally fought in the winter, cold weather made travel too difficult.

David should have been out at the battle but he remained behind. This opened the way for Satan's trap to unfold, and take root. Laying idle on his bed, he rises and wanders to his roof, and sees in full view Bathsheba bathing. This was all the spark the devil needed to get the fireball of sin rolling.

However, this was not the beginning of David's history of events with numerous women in his life, long before Bathsheba. David had shown no regard for fidelity in marriage years before when he took more than one wife. (1Sam 25:42-43, 2Sam 3: 2-5) He had shown no restraint when it came to his passions and indulgences with women, and it proved to produce a lifetime of trouble, both with the women, and the children he produced with these various women. 

As David watched this woman bathing, he committed adultery in his heart on the roof. When he had her brought to the him, he committed adultery with her in practice-which is much worse.

David could have ended the temptation with Bathsheba if he had fled the roof, and gotten away from the sight of her, and gotten his hands busy doing the Kings' business. But, he didn't, he pursued it further and sent and inquired about her. From here, David's heart turns very dark, and the plot to kill Uriah develops in his mind. One sin, gives birth to another, and more wicked, and more vile than the first. In this, he totally abandoned everything he knew of honor as a King-lust was now ruling his heart and soul. He ignored every warning and way of escape God had set in front of him. 

The unfortunate pattern of unchecked passions, indulgences and descent into wickedness and murder of Uriah can be seen as a climax of things going on in David for over 20 years. David had 8 wives: Michal Ahinoam Abigail Maachah Haggith Abital Eglah Bathsheba. No one knows how many concubines he had, 2Sam 5:13 reads "And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, and after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David; and 10 are mentioned in 2Sam 15:16. In 2Sam 16, we see the root of rebellion in his son Absalom when he takes David's concubines, and lays with them:
2Sa 16:22  So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 

This principle is shown again in the life of his son Solomon, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Like father, like son-only worse. It can be seen, what the obvious influence David had on Solomon. He followed in his father's steps, and lusts; which ultimately destroyed Solomon. The life of these men teaches us if one woman isn't sufficient, 1000 wouldn't be enough.

If David had known the cost of his lusts, acting on impulses and feelings instead of sound godly thinking, he may well have averted many sorrows, some in this list:
• An unwanted pregnancy
• The murder of a trusted friend-trying to cover up the sin of laying with Bathsheba, and her pregnancy. Trying to cover his sin, instead of repentance. He wanted to draw Uriah back home to have relations with Bathsheba to give a reason for her pregnancy. But, when this didn't work, he orders him in the frontline of battle, knowing he would be killed.
• A dead baby
• His daughter raped by his son
• One son murdered by another son
• A civil war led by one of his sons
• A son who imitates David’s lack of self-control and it leads him and much of Israel away from God

The same kind of ruin comes of adultery today. Many children go to bed every night without daddy in the house, because of adultery.

David learned the hard lesson that trying to cover one sin, leads to deeper sin, more treacherous deceptions and disaster. David's life continued to spiral out of control, and blind to his own darkness, until God sent Nathan the prophet to him, and confronted David, forcing him to see what he had done and that he had sinned greatly in the eyes of the Lord. Psalm 51 gives us David's prayer of humble repentance, and restoration. But, it didn't exempt David from living the rest of his life with many consequences of his actions. 

His life is an example, many down through the ages, and today live out similar scenarios, with the same ruined lives, and constant turmoil. The wages of sin is a very high price to pay. Ultimately, the wages of sin is death.

The important points we can glean from this is, what God's view of the unrepentant sinner is, and how he deals with us. Some important quotes that give good insight are:

“The real question for us all is: Are we prepared to face sin? Not to discuss someone else’s sin, but to face our own.” (Redpath)

The answer to hidden sin is confession and repentance. To whom should we confess? The answer is in the question, “Whom have we sinned against?” “If you sin secretly, confess secretly, admitting publicly that you need the victory but keeping details to yourself. If you sin openly confess openly to remove stumbling blocks from those whom you have hindered. (J. Edwin Orr)

“As soon as ever we are conscious of sin, the right thing is not to begin to reason with the sin, or to wait until we have brought ourselves into a proper state of heart about it, but to go at once and confess the transgression unto the Lord, there and then.” (Spurgeon)

Over the years, as I've studied this account of David's fall with Bathsheba I've thought, what would the churches, the religious leaders, and the world do with David today if he was here, and lived like this, and fell like this?  Think about it.
Lorna Couillard

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of
​the world will learn righteousness. Isa 26:8-9

​ “The desire of our soul is to the remembrance of Thy name.” God’s name is a compendious expression for the fulness of His perfections. God’s people are concerned for the honour of God’s name whatever becomes of their own. Living faith in God consists much in holy desire. “Thy servants who desire to fear Thy name.” They desire to live in the fear of God, in His love and in His service. Desire is love on the wing; delight is love at rest. David combines both (Psa_37:4).

Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

​Making God our heart’s delight, He will not fail to give us our heart’s desire. This desire, if genuine, will never be satisfied without God. As well offer lumps of gold or strains of music to one dying of thirst, as offer the world’s best gifts to that soul which truly thirsts for God and His righteousness (Psa_73:25).

​Psa 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 

1. Where genuine, this desire is the fruit of implanted grace. It is an evidence of a renewed nature. The beating of the pulse proves life. That which aspires to God has come from heaven. If the iron, contrary to its nature, moves upward, it is a sign that some magnetic force attracts it; and if the soul aspires to God, that is a sign that the grace of God has visited that soul.

​2. Genuine desires after God are influential. Real desires govern our conduct. It is useless to pretend that we thirst for grace, if by devout prayer and holy resolve we do not let down the bucket into the well.

“With my soul have I desired Thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early.”

The Christian has not always a bright shining sun; he has seasons of darkness and night. The light is sometimes eclipsed. At certain periods clouds and darkness cover the sun. The best of God’s saints have their nights. Sometimes it is a night over the whole Church at once. Sometimes the darkness over the soul arises from temporal distresses, sometimes from spiritual discouragements.

2. A Christian's religion will keep its color in the night. Men will follow Christ when every one cries Hosanna! A great many are very pious people in easy times. They will always go with Christ by daylight, and will keep Him company so long as fashion gives religion the doubtful benefit of its patronage; but they will not go with Him in the night. But the best test of a Christian is the night. If he only remained steadfast by daylight, when every coward is bold, where would he be? There would be no beauty in his courage, no glory in his bravery. There is many a Christian whose piety did not burn much when he was in prosperity; but it will be known in adversity. Grind the diamond a little, and you shall see it glisten.

3. All that the Christian wants in the night is his God. I cannot understand how it is, unless it is to be accounted for by the corruption of our spirit, that when everything goes well with us we are setting our affection first on one object and then on another; and that desire which is as insatiable as death and as deep as hell never rests satisfied. But if you place a Christian in trouble, you will find that he does not want gold then, nor carnal honour; he wants his God.

4. There are times when all the saint can do is to desire. The more evidences a man has of his piety the better. Many witnesses will carry our case better at the bar than a few. But there are seasons when a Christian cannot get any. He will have lost assurance. But there is one witness that very seldom is gagged, even in the night, and that is, “I have desired Thee—I have desired Thee in the night.”
(H. Spurgeon, New Park Street Pulpit, 1855)

Our Lord gives it as the distinctive mark of God’s elect that, they cry night and day to Him. This habit of prayer prompting to duty, tests the sincerity of our desires, —Samuel Thodey.