(f) Because they do not take everything promptly and confidently
to God in prayer.
Paul tells us to be "instant in prayer"; and I am persuaded that
it is slowness and delay to pray, and sloth and sleepiness in
prayer, that rob God's children of the glad assurance of His
guidance in all things.
(g) Because of impatience and haste. Some of God's plans
for us unfold slowly, and we must patiently and calmly wait on
Him in faith and faithfulness, assured that in due time He will
make plain His way for us, if our faith fail not. It is never
God's will that we should get into a headlong hurry; but that,
with patient steadfastness, we should learn to stand still when
the pillar of cloud and fire does not move, and that with loving
confidence and glad promptness we should strike our tents and
march forward when He leads.
"When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go,
Cannot fail the way to show.
Though the sea be deep and wide,
Though a passage seem denied;
Fearless, let us still proceed,
Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead."
Finally, we may rest assured that the Holy Spirit never leads His
people to do anything that is wrong, or that is contrary to the
will of God as revealed in the Bible. He never leads anyone to be
impolite and discourteous. "Be courteous" is a Divine command. He
would have us respect the minor graces of gentle, kindly manners,
as well as the great laws of holiness and righteousness.
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