Required reading
The Christian's daily walk, in holy security and peace by Henry Scudder (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 15 (Concerning false fears) by reading Sections 5 to 8.
My summary
Today Scudder continues to instruct us about how false fears are impediments to peace.
Scudder outlines some further reasons why false fears may arise and attempts to remove such fears.
The false fears may arise from:
(i) an accusing conscience;
(ii) late repentance;
(iii) doubts about misusing the means of grace;
(iv) doubts of God's love.
What grabbed me
Scudder gave some helpful advice for those struggling with unanswered prayer: 'God does many times in love and mercy hear his children's prayers, when they think he does not. God hears prayers many ways ; you must observe this, else you will judge that he does not hear your prayers, when yet indeed he does. Sometimes, yea, always when it is good for you, he gives the very thing which you pray for. Sometimes he gives not that thing which you ask ; but something much better. As, when you ask earthly and temporal good things, he grants them not, but instead thereof gives you things spiritual and eternal; likewise, when you ask grace in some special degree, such as joy, or comfort in God, or the like, it may please him not to let it appear that he gives the same unto you ; but instead thereof, he does enlarge your desires, and he gives humility and patience, to wait his leisure, which will do you more good than that which you prayed for. So, likewise, when you pray that God would free you from such a temptation ; God does not always rid and ease you of it ; but be, instead thereof, gives you strength to withstand it, and keeps you, that you are not overcome by it. Thus Christ was heard in that he feared, Heb. v. 7 ; so he said to the apostle, My grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. xii. 9; which is better than to have your particular request. For now God's power is seen in your weakness, and God has the glory of it; and you hereby have experience of God's power, which experience is of excellent use.'
Unanswered prayers are not necessarily a sign of God's disfavour.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 15 (Concerning false fears) by reading Section 9.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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