Some of the old mystics were really mistakes. They tried to be more saintly by hiding in caves. Living in a hole never made anybody holier.
Author: Vance Havner
Devotion of the Day
Prayer Is Not Enough
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
It will readily be seen here that God requires four things, not just one. And He will not settle for a fourth of what He requires. If we are going to use this verse let us use all of it. Sometimes we make it sound as though a prayer meeting alone were sufficient to produce a revival. God has said more here than “pray.”
We are to humble ourselves – not pray for humility, but humble ourselves, “as a little child” (Mt. 18:4), “in the sight of the Lord” (Jas. 4:10), “under the mighty hand of God” (I Pt. 5:6). We are to seek God’s face, His favor, the smile of His approval. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek” (Ps. 27:8). Is that what your heart says?
And we are to turn from our wicked ways. That fourth note is rather subdued these days. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
Praying is not enough if God requires more. And in this sadly misused text He certainly does!