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| ©Katie Lloyd Photography |
A new year is at hand and the reminder that our lives happen in cycles, in seasons is at the door. I take a time to consider how I have lived this past year, a year purposely “lived in the Sacred.” A year of laughs and many tears; a year of sharing so much with my family, a year of big changes, of great gains but also with many hard providences. Living in the Sacred, open before the face of God, knowing that He is Holy and Sovereign, has deeply changed me.
But I am not where I should be… I am fragile; so many times this past year I woke up feeling fragile, so vulnerable to my own sin. So blind.
I have quietly prayed, and have considered this verse over and over:
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Col.4:2
Holding fast to what I have attained, continuing in the progresses that I have made, persevering to the end; Oh to finsh the race by God’s grace is something that I want to do. And I pray I will with God’s help. This coming year, 2012, will be a year, God willing, of continuity and watchfulness. Prayer and thanksgiving will be my bread.
James Smith said it well,
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
How important is a spirit of prayer! It is . . .
the proof of regeneration,
the manifestation of grace in our hearts, and
the evidence our title to mansions in the skies!Prayer is . . .
the breath of the renewed soul,
the beating of the sanctified heart,
the effect of the life of God within us.O that I had prayed more!
Prayer should become a habit with us — then everything would furnish us with matter for prayer. Prayer should mingle with our pleasures and our pains, with our labor and our rest. O for more prayer!
We should never do — what we cannot pray God to bless.
We should never go — where we cannot ask God to go with us.
If we would hold fast our profession,
if we would adorn the gospel,
if we would honor Jesus,
if we would enjoy our mercies,
if we would get good by our trials,
if we would see all things working together for good,
if we would conquer Satan,
if we would overcome the world,
if we would crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts
— we must pray!Prayer, if it is believing prayer . . .
opens Heaven to us,
unveils the glorious face of God, and
brings down foretastes of the joys of paradise,
makes us a match for all our foes,
enables us patiently to carry every cross, and with perseverance to climb and pass over the loftiest hills we meet with on our heaven-bound pilgrimage!Those who pray, will, by deriving strength from Heaven, by drawing down wisdom from above — withstand every storm, and shout God’s praises at last.
If I want to be watchful, I must continue to live in prayer, like the Children of Light are called to live; there is simply no other way to do this.
“But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” I Thessalonians 5:4-6
Puritan Thomas Brooks said:
The best way to be safe and secure from all Satan’s assaults is, with Nehemiah and the Jews, to watch and pray, and pray and watch. By this means they became too hard for their enemies, and the work of the Lord did prosper sweetly in their hands…
Our whole life is beset with temptations. Satan watches all opportunities to break our peace, to wound our consciences, to lessen our comforts, to impair our graces, to slur our evidences, and to dampen our assurances. Oh! what need then have we to be always upon our watch-tower, lest we be surprised by this subtle serpent. Watchfulness includes a waking, a rousing up of the soul. It is a continual, careful observing of our hearts and ways, in all the turnings of our lives—that we still keep close to God and his Word.
Watchfulness is the heart busied and employed with diligent observation of what comes from within us, and of what comes from without us and into us.
May God give us grace to keep pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
May our soul’s strength be renewed as we continue to watch and pray.
Under His sun and by His grace,
Daily On My Way to Heaven 
Dear Melissa, I got Brooke's quotes from this article:
http://www.gracegems.org/Brooks/precious_remedies_against_satan12.htm
Love you!
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Love this encouragement, Becky! Where did you find the Thomas Brooks quotes? I think I need that resource!
I'm so thankful we're WATCHING together!
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I appreciate this post, Becky. It gives me a lot to think about as we start this new year. I apologize for not keeping up with your blog as often as I should. I pray that our Lord graciously blesses you and your household in 2012!
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I'm watching and waiting right along with you sister! I loved the quotes on prayer:
“Prayer, if it is believing prayer . . . opens Heaven to us,
unveils the glorious face of God, and brings down foretastes of the joys of paradise,” –
Prayer to our Sovereign Creator never changes His mind about anything for all has been beautifully decreed, rather it changes our minds and reveal His glorious workings! Wow!
Much love to you this new year!
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Sweet Becky, thank you so much for sharing these words and reflections with us. The words from James Smith were wonderful! I am hoping to think and chew on these phrases:
We should never do — what we cannot pray God to bless.
We should never go — where we cannot ask God to go with us.
What short but profound statements that should be applied to our lives!
Praying our Lord blesses you and keeps you this next year. I am so thankful for our friendship and these encouraging post you share. 🙂 Love you sister!
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Amen and amen. Thank you for this post, Becky. May the Lord bless and ever keep you in this new year.
Blessings to you, Dear One.
Sending Love and Warmest Wishes for the Coming Year,
Jojo
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Thank you for this beautiful post. May you have a wonderful, blessed New Year in which you continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord.
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Becky, may you and your family have a God-glorifying New Year. Thanks for being an encouragement to me. Maybe this will be our year to meet face to face? ❤
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@Christina, I love you, my friend. You have always been a great example to me.
@Lisa, I am so happy for friends like you who help me keep my eyes focused on the prize. 🙂
@Michelle, your kind words brought tears to my eyes. I am so grateful for you, for reading quietly and for taking the time today to leave such a beautiful note.
I pray that God will give us grace to finish well the race.
Much love to you all!
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Becky,
As the year ends, I wanted to let you know how much posts such as this have truly touched my soul and made me think about prayer, grace, and sanctification. Although I'm mostly a quiet reader, lurking in the shadows, I truly appreciate and am thankful for God's providence in bringing your writings (and ALL your friends'!) to my attention.
The emphasis on grace and the longing relationship with our heavenly Father that this blog often addresses, has really reminded me of the grace that I so often forget. Sometimes I feel as if I'm surrounded with and becoming overwhelmed with a “works-righteousness” that leads me so often broken and doubting my faith.
Words such as those of James Smith that you shared encourage me…
How important is a spirit of prayer! It is . . .
the proof of regeneration,
the manifestation of grace in our hearts…
Knowing that through all my valleys, my heart reaches out in prayer for mercy and forgiveness for my unbelief. What encouragement those words were for me today!
(P.S. Sorry for the spill…I was really just wanting to say, “thank you!”)
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Oh, yes, may 2012 find us faithful to persevere as we watch and pray!
Happy New Year, friend!
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Beautiful and worthy reflections! Wishing you and your family a beautiful and blessed new year! I'm so thankful for our friendship!
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