Directions for Daily Communion with God
hear your voice, though it be but a voice of your breathing, (LAM 3:56) Lamentations 3:56 (KJV) that is a sign of life; though it be the voice of your groanings, and those so weak that they cannot be uttered, ROM 8:26. Romans 8:26 (KJV) Speak to him, though it be in broken language, as Hezekiah did; Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter, ISA 38:14. Isaiah 38:14 (KJV) Speak often to him, he is always within hearing. Hear him speaking to you, and have an eye to that in every thing you say to him: as when you write an answer to a letter of business, you lay it before you; God's word must be the guide of your desires, and the ground of your expectations in prayer, nor can you expect he should give a gracious ear to what you say to him, if you turn a deaf ear to what he saith to you.
You see you have frequent occasion to speak with God, and therefore are concerned to grow in your acquaintance with him, to take heed of doing any thing to displease him; and to strengthen your interest in the Lord Jesus, through whom alone it is that you have access with boldness to him. Keep your voice in tune for prayer, and let all your language be a pure language, that you may be fit to call on the name of the Lord, ZEPH 3:9. Zephaniah 3:9 (KJV) And in every prayer remember you are speaking to God, and make it to appear you have an awe of him upon your spirits; let us not be rash with our mouth, nor hasty to utter any thing before God, but let every word be well weighed because God is in heaven, and we upon earth, ECCL 5:2. Ecclesiastes 5:2 (KJV) And if he had not invited and encouraged us to do it, it had been unpardonable presumption for such sinful worms as we are to speak to the Lord of glory, GEN 18:27. Genesis 18:27 (KJV) And we are concerned to speak from the heart heartily, for it is for our lives and for the lives of our souls that we are speaking to him.
B. We must direct our prayer unto God. He must not only hear our voice, but we must with deliberation and design address ourselves to him. In the original it is no more but I will direct unto thee; it might be supplied, I will direct my soul unto thee, agreeing with PS 25:1. Psalm 25:1 (KJV) Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Or, I will direct my affections to thee; having set my love upon thee, I will let out my love to thee. Our translation supplies it very well, I will direct my prayer unto thee. That is,
1. When I pray to thee I will direct my prayers; and then it notes a