More words from Andrew Murray:
Humankind was created for fellowship with God. God made us in His own image and likeness that we might be capable of understanding and enjoying God, entering into His will and delighting in His glory. Because God is everywhere present, we could have lived in unbroken fellowship with Him. But sin robbed us of this fellowship. And nothing short of it can satisfy us or the heart of God. It was this fellowship that Christ came to restore; to bring back to God His lost creatures.That's a good word for us today.
This communion with God is meant to be ours every day, no matter our state of mind or the circumstances that surround us. But its enjoyment depends upon the reality of our fellowship in the quiet place. The power to maintain close fellowship with God all day will depend entirely upon the intensity with which we seek to secure it in the hour of secret prayer. The one essential in the morning watch is fellowship with God. Of course, there is the danger of substituting prayer and Bible study for fellowship with God. True fellowship is giving your love, your heart, and your life to Him and receiving from Him His love, life, and Holy Spirit. Your needs may so distract you that the light of His countenance and the joy of His love cannot enfold you. Your Bible study may so pique your interest and so awaken pleasant feelings that the Word of God may become a substitute for God himself. If this happens, we will go out into the day's work without the power of an abiding fellowship because in our morning devotions the blessing was not secured.
What a difference it would make if everything in our prayer life were subject to the one goal: I want to walk through the day with God. What strength would be imparted by the awareness that God has taken charge and He is with us: We are going to do His will all day in His strength.
