Another aspect of walking in the lightis spending time with the Lord everysingle day, in the Word and in prayer. We will look at prayer first.

Get into the habit of praying. I am nota very good prayer when it comes to setting aside time and praying for an hourstraight. I am much better at praying all the time. If I’m walking, running, orsitting, if I’m driving, if I’m thinking, I talk to God. Mostly I talk aboutpeople. I don’t talk to God about myself much, unless I’m in trouble. Yearsago, InterVarsity staff member Bill Steeper said, “It was a wonderful thingwhen I got myself off my own hands.” He turned himself over to God. Corrie tenBoom said the same thing to me. She was riding in the back of a car one nighton a dangerous road. The driver was going way too fast, and she was terrified.She decided to spend the time interceding for other people. When she prayed forothers, her fear disappeared.

“Andso it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘Mywrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken ofMe what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, takefor yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, andoffer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray foryou. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly;because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.’ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar theNaamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job’s losses when heprayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:7-10).

Job had repented, and the Lord hadaccepted him, but it was when Job interceded for his friends that the Lordacted to restore his fortunes. Make it a habit to intercede for others everyday. No family is without problems. My family has had our share of them. Whathas helped us most is not letting ourselves get wrapped up in the problems.When we keep interceding for and being concerned about others, we don’t havetime to be too concerned about ourselves.

One of the first times I spoke on thissubject was after the birth and death of our little granddaughter Alexa. Mydaughter-in-law Meredith was two weeks overdue. Alexa was 9 lbs. 10 oz., thelabor was long, and she was born not breathing. Two of the nurses were intears. Meredith was comforting one nurse, and my son Gordon was comforting theother. That’s the way it was for the next fifteen months until Alexa died. Whenyou give yourself to other people, God gives you extra grace for your owntroubles.

You need to make a choice. Choose toalways turn up to God; don’t ever turn inward. Turning inward is a downhillspiral.

“Doubtless,” said I, “whatit utters is its only stock and store

Caught from someunhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster

Followed fast andfollowed faster till his songs one burden bore—

Till the dirges of hisHope that melancholy burden bore

Of ‘Never –nevermore.’”

Do not turn in! Turn up to the light andturn out to others.

When you look up instead of in, you will become aware of your sin, but once youare aware of it, it can be taken care of right away. You will be back in thejoy of the Lord quickly. When you look out, you will be concerned about others,for their benefit.

(To be continued October 31...)

Poe, Edgar Allan. The Raven.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships