By Jo Ann Hutsell
Psalms 116:1-2
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live (KJV).
We live in hard times, but sometimes the hardest thing to do is just pray.
When our first son was born, I used to rock him in a squeaky old rocker. Long after he had gone to sleep, I would still be holding him, rocking and singing. I would sometimes pray into the night for the tiny life I held in my arms. Our friends and family told me I would be sorry, but I don’t regret one moment of lost sleep. He is now over six feet tall and far too big to fit in my arms! Yet I still hold him in my heart and sometimes pray far into the night for him and his brother.
Intercession is something we can’t take lightly; we must pray without ceasing.
If there is one thing this life has taught me, it is that I can’t wait until the midst of a crisis to begin praying. I don’t always know how to pray for my children and grandchildren. At those times, I just have to do like the disciples did and ask Jesus to teach me to pray as I ought. I didn’t make all of the right decisions and choices when my boys were growing into men, but my choice to pray for them was always right.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Commended for Devotion, Part Two
By Peggy Allen
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.
Mary’s personality was totally different from her sister’s. Although she was not one to avoid work and service, her disposition led her to show love to others by giving quality time. Jesus had come into her home and he would only be there for a short time. He had important things to say and she didn’t want to miss a word. Because she loved Jesus so much, eating was the last thing on her mind. She probably realized that Martha’s love language was serving, so she turned that over to her.
Blessed to Love
While it is apparent that Mary’s love language is giving and receiving quality time, her love language could also include “words of affirmation.” She not only enjoyed the encouraging words Jesus spoke, but without a doubt she communicated her love to Jesus through her words, as well. But then, we are reminded of yet another dimension of Mary’s capacity to show love. John 12:1-3 tells about an incident that took place six days before the Passover, just prior to Jesus’ death. Jesus had been invited for a supper and, as usual, Martha served. But Mary took “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” Two new love languages seem to be surfacing here—physical touch and the giving of gifts.
How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.
Mary’s personality was totally different from her sister’s. Although she was not one to avoid work and service, her disposition led her to show love to others by giving quality time. Jesus had come into her home and he would only be there for a short time. He had important things to say and she didn’t want to miss a word. Because she loved Jesus so much, eating was the last thing on her mind. She probably realized that Martha’s love language was serving, so she turned that over to her.
Blessed to Love
While it is apparent that Mary’s love language is giving and receiving quality time, her love language could also include “words of affirmation.” She not only enjoyed the encouraging words Jesus spoke, but without a doubt she communicated her love to Jesus through her words, as well. But then, we are reminded of yet another dimension of Mary’s capacity to show love. John 12:1-3 tells about an incident that took place six days before the Passover, just prior to Jesus’ death. Jesus had been invited for a supper and, as usual, Martha served. But Mary took “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” Two new love languages seem to be surfacing here—physical touch and the giving of gifts.
How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Commended for Devotion, Part One
By Peggy Allen
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.
Martha is without a doubt the kind of person who would be more responsive to acts of service, because that is what she is noted for giving to others. When Jesus came to her house, the way she showed love for Jesus was by cooking a fine meal and serving Him. There is nothing wrong with serving people. The gospel enjoins us to do so, in fact.
In the first incident, where Martha served and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, Martha’s love language seemed to be wearing thin. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40, NKJV). Martha’s attitude speaks volumes to us who are called to be servants. We, like Martha, often become irritated when we feel like no one else is sharing the load. But doesn’t that attitude sort of take away from our love offering? Jesus’ answer to Martha wasn’t what she expected or wanted: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verses 41, 42, NKJV).
Martha’s job was important; people have to eat, and it was especially important to feed an honored guest! She probably would not have felt imposed upon if Mary had not been having such a good time. Why should she have to do all the work when everyone else is enjoying fellowship with the Lord? Do you detect a little bit of jealousy? Do you think Jesus’ response to Martha’s love offering would have been different if she had not complained about it?
How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.
Martha is without a doubt the kind of person who would be more responsive to acts of service, because that is what she is noted for giving to others. When Jesus came to her house, the way she showed love for Jesus was by cooking a fine meal and serving Him. There is nothing wrong with serving people. The gospel enjoins us to do so, in fact.
In the first incident, where Martha served and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, Martha’s love language seemed to be wearing thin. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40, NKJV). Martha’s attitude speaks volumes to us who are called to be servants. We, like Martha, often become irritated when we feel like no one else is sharing the load. But doesn’t that attitude sort of take away from our love offering? Jesus’ answer to Martha wasn’t what she expected or wanted: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verses 41, 42, NKJV).
Martha’s job was important; people have to eat, and it was especially important to feed an honored guest! She probably would not have felt imposed upon if Mary had not been having such a good time. Why should she have to do all the work when everyone else is enjoying fellowship with the Lord? Do you detect a little bit of jealousy? Do you think Jesus’ response to Martha’s love offering would have been different if she had not complained about it?
How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
War with Confidence
By An Anonymous Guest Dad
The crisis had come. The frantic, desperate phone calls had been made. It was time to take action, time to go to war. It was my time . . . I was now the one who was feverishly fasting, praying and interceding for a member of my own family.
Fasting was easy; I wasn’t hungry anyway. Seeing God replace this storm with blue skies was far more appealing to me than any of my favorite foods. It seemed truly appropriate to fill my normal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner with prayer.
It would have been impossible to keep from praying. Like a moth drawn to a flame, every waking minute I was either praying silently, praying aloud or praying in the Spirit that God would change the situation.
Once every hour, I would stop everything and intercede on my knees for ten minutes. Here is what I prayed during these focused times of intercession, inserting the name of the person I was praying for in the blanks:
Based on Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)
God, please answer this prayer for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
“. . . we have not stopped praying for _______ and asking You to fill him/her with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that _______ may live a life worthy of You and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in Your knowledge, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that _______ may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to You, Father, who has qualified _____________ to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For You have rescued ________ from the dominion of darkness and brought him/her into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom he/she has redemption, the forgiveness of _____ sins.”
Based on Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
God, please reveal to ______________ in Jesus’ Name:
“You, the LORD his/her God are with ____________,
You are mighty to save him/her.
You will take great delight in him/her,
You will quiet him/her with Your love,
You will rejoice over him/her with singing.”
Based on Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)
God, please do this for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
May the ". . .God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give ______ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he/she may know You better. I pray also that the eyes of ______’s heart may be enlightened in order that he/she may know the hope to which You have called him/her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for him/her because he/she believes.”
I began praying that God would reveal the Truth of these Scriptures to my loved one, but I had no feeling of reassurance. As I pressed on, more in desperation than in faith, God gave me a strong sense that these times of intercession based on His Word were driving back the darkness.
God answered, changed my loved one’s heart and the entire situation. He will do the same for you! Go to war, intercede, pray and fast with confidence in God. He WILL win!
The crisis had come. The frantic, desperate phone calls had been made. It was time to take action, time to go to war. It was my time . . . I was now the one who was feverishly fasting, praying and interceding for a member of my own family.
Fasting was easy; I wasn’t hungry anyway. Seeing God replace this storm with blue skies was far more appealing to me than any of my favorite foods. It seemed truly appropriate to fill my normal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner with prayer.
It would have been impossible to keep from praying. Like a moth drawn to a flame, every waking minute I was either praying silently, praying aloud or praying in the Spirit that God would change the situation.
Once every hour, I would stop everything and intercede on my knees for ten minutes. Here is what I prayed during these focused times of intercession, inserting the name of the person I was praying for in the blanks:
Based on Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)
God, please answer this prayer for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
“. . . we have not stopped praying for _______ and asking You to fill him/her with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that _______ may live a life worthy of You and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in Your knowledge, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that _______ may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to You, Father, who has qualified _____________ to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For You have rescued ________ from the dominion of darkness and brought him/her into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom he/she has redemption, the forgiveness of _____ sins.”
Based on Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
God, please reveal to ______________ in Jesus’ Name:
“You, the LORD his/her God are with ____________,
You are mighty to save him/her.
You will take great delight in him/her,
You will quiet him/her with Your love,
You will rejoice over him/her with singing.”
Based on Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)
God, please do this for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
May the ". . .God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give ______ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he/she may know You better. I pray also that the eyes of ______’s heart may be enlightened in order that he/she may know the hope to which You have called him/her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for him/her because he/she believes.”
I began praying that God would reveal the Truth of these Scriptures to my loved one, but I had no feeling of reassurance. As I pressed on, more in desperation than in faith, God gave me a strong sense that these times of intercession based on His Word were driving back the darkness.
God answered, changed my loved one’s heart and the entire situation. He will do the same for you! Go to war, intercede, pray and fast with confidence in God. He WILL win!
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Hour of Prayer
By Cheri Bunch
“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27 NASV).
I had a feeling . . . a very bad feeling about home.
My husband and I were in Scotland. Our youngest son Josiah was with us. The rest of my children were at home in the USA.
My dad had died only a month before and my mom and brother were still in deep despair because of his sudden and unexpected death.
Who was in trouble? I didn’t know! The heaviness intensified . . . something was really, really wrong! I began to pray. I didn’t know how to pray. I had to pray in the Spirit. He knew what was wrong. He was quickening me in this moment to pray . . . to earnestly pray.
I didn’t feel that I could call to find out what was going on. We were staying with a family to whom we had just been introduced and I didn’t know the cost of the call. Since I knew that overseas calls could mount up to an exorbitant cost quickly, I shut the door on a little room of our host’s house and began to sob and intercede, for what, I really didn’t know. I prayed for whatever urgent matter was on the heart of my God.
I was not able to get in touch with anyone from home for several more days. I called my mother as soon as I was able to get to a phone with reasonable rates for international calling. The first thing she said was, “Did you know that Caleb and Luke wrecked the truck?”
No, I hadn’t known. Caleb and Luke are also my sons. They were driving to a Christian concert that was a long distance from home. They headed into some road construction that was poorly marked. Wrecks were happening in the very spot where they had their mishap almost daily. In nearly every wreck that happened at this location there had been a death. I believe the tow truck man told us that there had been at least one death in every wreck that had happened in that particular spot.
When we returned home, we contacted the garage where the truck had been towed. The truck was totaled. The boys had to leave it behind.
“Do your boys believe in God?” the man who had towed the truck to his garage asked my husband.
“Yes, they do,” my husband replied.
“Well, they should, because they should be dead. Their truck is totally destroyed and those boys came away from that crash with nary a scratch. Yes, sir, if they didn’t believe in God before the crash, they should now. They escaped the worst kind of disaster!” The man seemed shaken by this fact.
Who can understand why the Lord lets us be a part of intercession? Scotty and I were so far away. . . yet the message to my heart was clear! “Pray--pray in the Spirit! I will pray through you!” So I responded to the burden with tears, empowered to pray with most holy faith.
The hour that I was burdened to pray was the exact hour that my boys were in trouble.
I used to waste much of my life in a state of worry, but I am learning that when there is something serious going on, the Lord can lead me to a place of intercession. The Holy Spirit doesn’t worry; He pleads with the Father, who is in heaven, and miracles happen. As we surrender to His leading, He will help us to have an active role in the bringing miracles to pass that will testify to the power and faithfulness of our God.
There is a tow truck man somewhere in Illinois that will tell you that my words are true.
Blessings to all!
“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27 NASV).
I had a feeling . . . a very bad feeling about home.
My husband and I were in Scotland. Our youngest son Josiah was with us. The rest of my children were at home in the USA.
My dad had died only a month before and my mom and brother were still in deep despair because of his sudden and unexpected death.
Who was in trouble? I didn’t know! The heaviness intensified . . . something was really, really wrong! I began to pray. I didn’t know how to pray. I had to pray in the Spirit. He knew what was wrong. He was quickening me in this moment to pray . . . to earnestly pray.
I didn’t feel that I could call to find out what was going on. We were staying with a family to whom we had just been introduced and I didn’t know the cost of the call. Since I knew that overseas calls could mount up to an exorbitant cost quickly, I shut the door on a little room of our host’s house and began to sob and intercede, for what, I really didn’t know. I prayed for whatever urgent matter was on the heart of my God.
I was not able to get in touch with anyone from home for several more days. I called my mother as soon as I was able to get to a phone with reasonable rates for international calling. The first thing she said was, “Did you know that Caleb and Luke wrecked the truck?”
No, I hadn’t known. Caleb and Luke are also my sons. They were driving to a Christian concert that was a long distance from home. They headed into some road construction that was poorly marked. Wrecks were happening in the very spot where they had their mishap almost daily. In nearly every wreck that happened at this location there had been a death. I believe the tow truck man told us that there had been at least one death in every wreck that had happened in that particular spot.
When we returned home, we contacted the garage where the truck had been towed. The truck was totaled. The boys had to leave it behind.
“Do your boys believe in God?” the man who had towed the truck to his garage asked my husband.
“Yes, they do,” my husband replied.
“Well, they should, because they should be dead. Their truck is totally destroyed and those boys came away from that crash with nary a scratch. Yes, sir, if they didn’t believe in God before the crash, they should now. They escaped the worst kind of disaster!” The man seemed shaken by this fact.
Who can understand why the Lord lets us be a part of intercession? Scotty and I were so far away. . . yet the message to my heart was clear! “Pray--pray in the Spirit! I will pray through you!” So I responded to the burden with tears, empowered to pray with most holy faith.
The hour that I was burdened to pray was the exact hour that my boys were in trouble.
I used to waste much of my life in a state of worry, but I am learning that when there is something serious going on, the Lord can lead me to a place of intercession. The Holy Spirit doesn’t worry; He pleads with the Father, who is in heaven, and miracles happen. As we surrender to His leading, He will help us to have an active role in the bringing miracles to pass that will testify to the power and faithfulness of our God.
There is a tow truck man somewhere in Illinois that will tell you that my words are true.
Blessings to all!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Discerment or Suspicion?
By Cheri Bunch
Our son walked in the front door and began to walk into the kitchen when I heard the Lord speak. I said to him, “What is that book under your shirt?”
My husband looked up from eating his lunch with a puzzled look on his face. Josh, our son, had on a loose-fitting shirt with a jacket over it. The book hidden beneath was not visible outwardly, but I knew that it was there.
Josh pulled the book from underneath his shirt and handed it to me. “I want to read it, Mom. I knew you wouldn’t like it, so I hid it from you.”
The Lord wanted Josh to know that He can see the hidden things and He can disclose our secrets to others.
The Lord was also teaching me . . . teaching me to trust Him.
It is so easy to slip from discernment into suspicion. Many times I have been suspicious of what the kids were doing, what my husband’s intentions were or even about what my friends were thinking. My suspicious mind can conjure up just about anything!
I have found that it is so much better for everyone that I walk in discernment rather than in suspicion. (It’s also much more peaceful for me and those around me!) I have learned to ask the Lord for discernment and I am learning to trust Him to give it to me.
Discernment is an act of faith. Suspicion is a fruit of fear. Which one have you chosen to walk in?
Take it to prayer, friend. The Lord will equip you for every good work, including the work of discernment.
Ecclesiastes 8:5b “ . . . for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure” (NASV).
Our son walked in the front door and began to walk into the kitchen when I heard the Lord speak. I said to him, “What is that book under your shirt?”
My husband looked up from eating his lunch with a puzzled look on his face. Josh, our son, had on a loose-fitting shirt with a jacket over it. The book hidden beneath was not visible outwardly, but I knew that it was there.
Josh pulled the book from underneath his shirt and handed it to me. “I want to read it, Mom. I knew you wouldn’t like it, so I hid it from you.”
The Lord wanted Josh to know that He can see the hidden things and He can disclose our secrets to others.
The Lord was also teaching me . . . teaching me to trust Him.
It is so easy to slip from discernment into suspicion. Many times I have been suspicious of what the kids were doing, what my husband’s intentions were or even about what my friends were thinking. My suspicious mind can conjure up just about anything!
I have found that it is so much better for everyone that I walk in discernment rather than in suspicion. (It’s also much more peaceful for me and those around me!) I have learned to ask the Lord for discernment and I am learning to trust Him to give it to me.
Discernment is an act of faith. Suspicion is a fruit of fear. Which one have you chosen to walk in?
Take it to prayer, friend. The Lord will equip you for every good work, including the work of discernment.
Ecclesiastes 8:5b “ . . . for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure” (NASV).
Friday, November 6, 2009
Burdened to Pray
By Cheri Bunch
Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, grew up in a strong Christian home. As a child he was very determined to be a missionary and take the gospel into China, but he began to stray from the faith in his teen years. I would like to share a bit of his testimony taken from a book entitled Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven by John Pollock (Christian Focus, 1996). I love the way the Lord used Hudson’s mother illustrated in the excerpt below:
“A year later, in June 1849, his mother was away. One warm afternoon Amelia [his sister] was out and Hudson had nothing to do on a half-holiday. He looked idly over his father’s books and rummaged in a basket of popular ‘Gospel tracts.’ He picked one out, intending to read the story and skip the moral. He went into the barn behind the house and shop, curled up comfortably and began ‘in utterly unconcerned state of mind, with a distinct intention to put away the tract as soon as it should seem prosy.’
As he read, one sentence gripped him. Suddenly he realized that he approached religion from the wrong angle. He believed Christianity to be a dreary struggle to pay off bad deeds by good. He had long abandoned this struggle. He owed too much. He had gone into spiritual bankruptcy, paying a small dividend to his Divine Creditor in the shape of chapel attendance and of prayers rattled off at night, but with no hope of discharge; like most bankrupts he had sought to have a good time.
One sentence in the tract broke open his mind to a sudden certainty that Christ by His death upon the cross had already discharged this debt of sins. ‘And with this dawned the joyful conviction, as light was flashed into my soul by the Holy Spirit, that there was nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one’s knees and accepting this Savior and His Salvation, to praise Him forevermore.’
No Luther, Bunyan or Wesley had a more complete sense of the rolling away of his burden, of light dismissing darkness, of rebirth and the close friendship of Christ, than Hudson Taylor on that June afternoon of 1849 at the age of seventeen.
Several days passed before he shyly told Amelia under seal of secrecy. At the return of his mother ten days afterwards he ran to the door ‘to tell her I had such glad news to give’. She replied as she hugged him, ‘I know, my boy. I have been rejoicing for a fortnight in the glad tidings you have to tell me.’ Hudson was amazed. Had Amelia blabbed? His mother denied it. She said that eighty miles away, on the very day of the incident in the barn, she had felt such an overwhelming desire to pray for Hudson that she spent hours on her knees, and had arisen with the unshakeable conviction that her prayers were answered. ‘It was perhaps natural,’ Hudson wrote years later, ‘that from the commencement of my Christian life I was led to feel that prayer was in sober matter of fact transacting business with God.’ ”
What a testimony! I hope it encourages you as it has me!
Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, grew up in a strong Christian home. As a child he was very determined to be a missionary and take the gospel into China, but he began to stray from the faith in his teen years. I would like to share a bit of his testimony taken from a book entitled Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven by John Pollock (Christian Focus, 1996). I love the way the Lord used Hudson’s mother illustrated in the excerpt below:
“A year later, in June 1849, his mother was away. One warm afternoon Amelia [his sister] was out and Hudson had nothing to do on a half-holiday. He looked idly over his father’s books and rummaged in a basket of popular ‘Gospel tracts.’ He picked one out, intending to read the story and skip the moral. He went into the barn behind the house and shop, curled up comfortably and began ‘in utterly unconcerned state of mind, with a distinct intention to put away the tract as soon as it should seem prosy.’
As he read, one sentence gripped him. Suddenly he realized that he approached religion from the wrong angle. He believed Christianity to be a dreary struggle to pay off bad deeds by good. He had long abandoned this struggle. He owed too much. He had gone into spiritual bankruptcy, paying a small dividend to his Divine Creditor in the shape of chapel attendance and of prayers rattled off at night, but with no hope of discharge; like most bankrupts he had sought to have a good time.
One sentence in the tract broke open his mind to a sudden certainty that Christ by His death upon the cross had already discharged this debt of sins. ‘And with this dawned the joyful conviction, as light was flashed into my soul by the Holy Spirit, that there was nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one’s knees and accepting this Savior and His Salvation, to praise Him forevermore.’
No Luther, Bunyan or Wesley had a more complete sense of the rolling away of his burden, of light dismissing darkness, of rebirth and the close friendship of Christ, than Hudson Taylor on that June afternoon of 1849 at the age of seventeen.
Several days passed before he shyly told Amelia under seal of secrecy. At the return of his mother ten days afterwards he ran to the door ‘to tell her I had such glad news to give’. She replied as she hugged him, ‘I know, my boy. I have been rejoicing for a fortnight in the glad tidings you have to tell me.’ Hudson was amazed. Had Amelia blabbed? His mother denied it. She said that eighty miles away, on the very day of the incident in the barn, she had felt such an overwhelming desire to pray for Hudson that she spent hours on her knees, and had arisen with the unshakeable conviction that her prayers were answered. ‘It was perhaps natural,’ Hudson wrote years later, ‘that from the commencement of my Christian life I was led to feel that prayer was in sober matter of fact transacting business with God.’ ”
What a testimony! I hope it encourages you as it has me!
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