Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Stand in reverent awe of God and do not sin, privately commune with the own heart, and be still. The prayer to which this belongs turns the godly to trust in the Lord. First commune inwardly with the own heart in quiet private silence and then commune with God. Enter into the closet and in silence search the heart and listen to the voice of truth and conscience, each person closely and critically examining self before God in secret prayer, diligently seeking Him in prayer for physical and spiritual necessities.
Secret prayer in that stillness gives the clearest views of self. He who sees in secret and knows all things enlightens the understanding and answers petitions and opens before the mind plain simple duties that must not be neglected. That inner communion and prayer is needed for spiritual growth and for constant growth in grace. It supplies words suited to the occasion.
That silence brings great blessing and the wisdom that God alone can give, and it helps everyday work. It lets the light of truth shine into the chambers of the mind, prepares to speak words in season and out of season to afflicted souls in need of light, and leads to a daily life that reveals communion with God with His peace filling the heart. Without that quiet reflection, hurried and confused efforts become fruitless, made Christless by unsanctified hurry and confusion over worldly things. For ministers, letting worldly things take time and attention instead of this communion causes tame, lifeless preaching.
In preparing for camp-meeting and joining in worship with others, this inward preparation includes confessing wrongs, making peace, and covenanting to yield self and all powers to God's service. That work must be done at home beforehand and not carried undone to the meeting. If left undone, the soul suffers and others are injured by coldness and spiritual lethargy.
Stand in reverent awe of God and do not sin, privately commune with the own heart, and be still. The prayer to which this belongs turns the godly to trust in the Lord. First commune inwardly with the own heart in quiet private silence and then commune with God. Enter into the closet and in silence search the heart and listen to the voice of truth and conscience, each person closely and critically examining self before God in secret prayer, diligently seeking Him in prayer for physical and spiritual necessities.
Secret prayer in that stillness gives the clearest views of self. He who sees in secret and knows all things enlightens the understanding and answers petitions and opens before the mind plain simple duties that must not be neglected. That inner communion and prayer is needed for spiritual growth and for constant growth in grace. It supplies words suited to the occasion.
That silence brings great blessing and the wisdom that God alone can give, and it helps everyday work. It lets the light of truth shine into the chambers of the mind, prepares to speak words in season and out of season to afflicted souls in need of light, and leads to a daily life that reveals communion with God with His peace filling the heart. Without that quiet reflection, hurried and confused efforts become fruitless, made Christless by unsanctified hurry and confusion over worldly things. For ministers, letting worldly things take time and attention instead of this communion causes tame, lifeless preaching.
In preparing for camp-meeting and joining in worship with others, this inward preparation includes confessing wrongs, making peace, and covenanting to yield self and all powers to God's service. That work must be done at home beforehand and not carried undone to the meeting. If left undone, the soul suffers and others are injured by coldness and spiritual lethargy.