To pleasing the Lord

You may say : "I think I'm well prepared for any storm. After all, I am a faithful witness of the Lord. I am not ashamed of the gospel, and I live a pure and moral life. I give my tithe, read my Bible and go to church regularly."

It is possible to be a believer and yet to remain away from the Lord. The fact is, if you do not spend enough time with Him - if you do not tap into His strength - your heart will fail. Your words will have little power or result and your testimony will be lifeless. Why ? Because you will have moved away from the source of strength.

Do not make the mistake of measuring your walk with Christ by your good works or ministry, rather than by His presence in your life.

You simply can not please the Lord - to be more accomplished or more at the center of His will - than when you merely approach Him in prayer.

We know this through the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul has faced many difficult and perilous moments. This man of God knew what it meant to lose everything: to be hungry and thirsty, to suffer privations, to be in poverty, to be abandoned, to be bound by chains in a dark and damp cell, alone and rejected, even by Some of his closest friends.

But Paul has not weakened. In fact, the apostle became stronger in every trial. How is it possible ? It is possible because he knows the secret to obtain and retain true strength.

Paul testified : "In my first defense, no one has helped me, but all have abandoned me. Let it not be imputed to them! It is the Lord who has assisted me and strengthened me ... The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and he will save me to bring me into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever." (2 Timothy 4: 16-18).

David Wilkerson