How many of us deprecate the hand of God when it comes with His displeasure? I love that David could express this well and how many times do we read that even as a man after God’s own heart he stumbled a few times. He knew when God was dealing with him and for those who have experienced God’s hand in our lives when He is disciplining us know that is the one and only prayer that consumes us – more so than any other trouble in our lives. At the same time who gives us an example in how to receive that discipline better than David – for it comes from the hand of God and therefore is consistent with the love of God.

O Lord, don’t punish me in your anger! – Psalm 38:1 GNT

When Jesus came as a man, though He was sinless, He became our Champion.

Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. – Hebrews 2:14-15 GNT

The cross became the place where He met the Devil and ended his authority over all those who believe in Him. He delivers me where before I was afraid and in bondage. My simple task today is to watch and pray so that I am not mislead or hindered in my communion with God.

I have seen men standing in the street, before an engraving of that gem of the Dresden Gallery, a longer time than a good man will sometimes devote to his evening prayer. Yet, what thoughts, what ideals of grace, can Genius express in a painting, demanding time for their appreciation and enjoyment, like those great thoughts of God, of Heaven, of Eternity, which the soul needs to conceive vividly, in order to know the blessedness of prayer? What conceptions can Art imagine of the Divine Child, which can equal in spirituality, the thoughts which one needs to entertain of Christ, in the prayer of faith? We cannot hope, commonly, to spring into possession of such thoughts, in the twinkling of an eye. – Austin Phelps