June 13: Daniel Whittle on the Dangers of Answered Prayer

Daniel W. Whittle
Daniel W. Whittle

Daniel Whittle is the author of the hymn, The Banner of the Cross. Perhaps you remember the chorus:

Marching on, marching on,
For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, we’ll toil and sing,
Beneath the banner of the cross!

https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/The_Banner_of_the_Cross/

We’re continuing in his book, The Wonders of Prayer: A Record of Well Authenticated and Wonderful Answers.

There is a danger to be carefully guarded against in the reading of this book and in the consideration of the precious truth. The incidents it relates bring before the mind, of the unlimited resources and the unquenchable love of God, that are made available to beliving prayer. That danger has been suggested by what has been said, that the highest use of prayer is to bring the soul nearer to God, and not the making of it a mere matter of convenience to escape physical ills or supply physical necessities.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh” and continues flesh until the end. “Have no confidence in the flesh” is always a much needed exhortation. Now, unquestionably, the desires of the natural heart may and do deceive us, and often lead us to believe that our fervent earnest prayer for temporal blessing is led of the Spirit, when the mind of the Spirit is, that we will be made more humble, more Christ-like and more useful by being denied than be being granted. Again, we are in danger of disobeying the plain commands of God’s word in allowing prayer ever to take the place of anything in our power to do, and that we are commanded to do as a means to secure needed good. He who has said “pray always,” has also said, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

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