Psalm 65:11

Many are the paths of the Lord which drop fatness, but a special one is the path of prayer. No believer who is much in the closet will have need to cry, My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me. Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy seat and become like the parched fields in times of drought.

Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord.

Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not told to come because you are an advanced saint but are freely invited if you are a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you often engage in private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel’s fields.

There is another special path dropping with fatness to those who walk in it; it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth has no words that can express the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus’ bosom.

Few Christians understand it. They live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they do not enter the holy place, they do not take up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they do not sit down with the priest to eat of it and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering.

But, reader, always sit under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree and take hold of its branches; let your beloved be to you as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, and you will be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with your salvation!