Ephesians 6:18

What multitudes of prayers we have offered from the first moment we learned to pray. Our first prayer was for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy on us and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves.

We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave a fresh assurance of faith, for the comforting application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for aid in the day of trial.

We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water it has drunk has flowed from the living rock—Christ Jesus the Lord.

Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner on the daily bounty of God. Therefore, your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and so the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless.

Then do you not have cause to say, “I love the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication”? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God’s answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonored Him by trembling and doubting at the mercy seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor, weak prayers. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”