David Brainerd

Every now and again I've picked up a book I ordered not long ago, "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd" - with comments from Jonathan Edwards. This man was a missionary to native Americans in the mid 18th century. To read more about who he was you can go here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Brainerd . If you've listened to Leonard Ravenhill for any period of time you've heard him talk about David Brainerd and his life of prayer. It's amazing to read how with each day he grows closer to the Lord. He often states that he drew nearer in prayer or worship that day than ever before in his life. I want to share some excerpts of his writings with y'all.. This echoes the cry of my own heart.

Oh, that God would humble me deeply in the dust before Him! I deserve hell every day for not loving my Lord more, who has, I trust, loved me and given Himself for me. Every time I am enabled to excercise any grace renewedly, I am renewedly indebted to the God of all grace for special assistance. Where then is boasting? Surely it is excluded when we think how we are dependent on God for the being and every act of grace. Oh, if I ever get to heaven it will be because God wills, and nothing else; for I never did anything of myself but get away from God! My soul will be astonished at the unsearchable riches of divine grace when I arrive at the mansions, which the blessed Saviour is gone before to prepare. (I pray that God would grant us to tap into those unsearchable riches of divine grace, so that we may live in holiness unto Him!)

Oh my blessed God! Let me climb up near to Him, and love, and long, and plead, and wrestle, and stretch after Him, and for deliverance from the body of sin and death. Alas! my soul mourned to think I should ever lose sight of its Beloved again. "O come, Lord Jesus, amen."

... In the afternoon God was with me of a truth. Oh, it was blessed company indeed! God enabled me so to agonize in prayer that I was quite wet with perspiration, though in the shade and cool wind. My soul was drawn out very much for the world, for multitudes of souls... I enjoyed great sweetness in communion with my dear Saviour. I think I never in my life felt such an entire weanedness from this world and so much resigned to God in everything. O, that I may always live to and upon my blessed God! Amen, amen.