BRINGING THE BEST TO THE LORD

In the Old Testament, people could not approach the altar with a lamb that was blemished or blind or lame. They had to bring their very best to the Lord.

What kind of time do you bring before the Lord in prayer? Is it your best time, your wide-awake time? Or, rather, do you come to God in the morning to pray about holy things with your mind full of what needs to be done that day? Or do you come to Him weary and tired after a busy day, dragging yourself into His presence?

Beloved, your mind and heart must be where your lips are! Isaiah spoke of the kind of "burnt offerings and sacrifices . . . accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:7). Those who bring acceptable sacrifices are those who "join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord" (verse 6).

This acceptable sacrifice made at God's altar is not a lame, halfhearted, sleepy-eyed sacrifice, a last-minute obligatory offering. Rather, it comes from a heart that is consumed with love for Jesus, one that constantly cries out, "God, I come to You today to know You. I want more of You!"

The Lord says of those who bring such sacrifices: "I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer" (verse 7). He will hear our prayers and bring us to a place of holiness, joy and power!

"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2).

Once you have established a prayer habit and have shut out all distractions, God desires that you seek Him with all your heart: "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).