faithfully.
deceitfully—no sacrifice brought, or it has been the torn, the lame, and the sick; no prayer offered, or the prayer not directed properly, nor lifted up sincerely. We have received the mercies of the morning —God has not failed in His compassion and care as a loving Father— yet we have neglected the morning's service, failing shamefully in our duty as His children.
Let us humble ourselves before God this morning for our sin and folly in this matter: that we have so often robbed God of the honour due to Him and ourselves of the benefit of morning worship. God has come into our closets seeking fruit, but He has found little or none. He has listened and heard, but either we did not speak to Him at all, or we did not speak rightly. Some trivial excuse has sufficed to delay or omit it, and when once this good habit has been broken, our conscience has been wounded, its strength weakened, and our diligence has grown cooler. Perhaps, over time, it has been abandoned altogether.
Secondly, I urge you, hear this word of exhortation. I know how much consistent and sincere secret worship would contribute to the prosperity of your soul. Therefore, allow me to press this upon you earnestly: let God hear from you every morning. Every morning, let your prayer be directed to Him, and look up.
1. Commit to your secret worship; keep it faithfully.
Do this not merely because it has been handed down as a tradition from your ancestors, but because it is a commandment from the Lord. Set aside specific times for it, and be diligent in keeping them. Those who have lived in total neglect of or frequent omission of
secret prayer should, from this point onward, consider it the most necessary part of their daily responsibilities and the most comforting part of their daily routines. Approach it with consistent care and with increasing delight.
No one with the use of their reason can claim exemption from this duty. What is commanded of some is commanded of all: Pray, pray, continue in prayer, and watch in the same. Wealthy people are not as bound to manual labour as the poor, and the poor are not as bound to give alms as the rich, but both are equally bound to pray. The rich are not above the need for prayer, and the poor are not beneath God's acceptance of it. It is never too early for the youngest to begin praying, and those whom age has taught wisdom will still prove foolish at the end if they think they no longer need to pray.
Let no one excuse themselves by saying they cannot pray. If you were starving, you would know how to beg for food; and if you see yourself undone because of sin, can you not beg and pray for mercy and grace? Are you a Christian? Then never, for shame, say, I cannot pray, for this is as absurd as a soldier saying he does not know how to handle a sword, or a carpenter saying he cannot use an axe. What are you called to in the fellowship of Christ, if not that through Him you might have fellowship with God? You may not pray as eloquently as others, but pray as well as you can, and God will accept you.
Let no one claim they have no time in the morning for prayer. I dare say you can find time for other things that are far less important. You would be better off sacrificing some sleep than neglecting prayer. And how can you spend your time better, or in a way that brings you greater satisfaction and benefit? All the day's work will prosper more if you begin it with God.