Spurgeon: “What a God is He to hear the prayers of those who come to Him”

The following is adapted from Charles Spurgeon’s class devotional Morning and Evening.

“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer.”
(Psalm 66:20)

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them.

There may be some who think their prayers are worthy of acceptance—as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers. And if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly.

Remember, Christian, how cold your prayers have been. When in your closet you should have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead, your petitions have been faint and few-far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, “I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me.” Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of yours, and not only heard, but answered them.

Reflect also, how infrequent have been your prayers, unless you have been in trouble, in which case you have gone often to the mercy-seat. But when deliverance comes, where goes your constant supplication? Yet, notwithstanding you have ceased to pray as once you did, God has not ceased to bless. When you have neglected the mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim.

Oh! it is marvelous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is He to hear the prayers of those who come to Him when they have pressing wants, but neglect Him when they have received a mercy; who approach Him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address Him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few.

Let His gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may henceforth be found “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18).