January 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24).

Devotional

Remember that the throne of grace is near at hand. You do not have to travel far to reach it—no lengthy and painful journey ... no wearisome and mortifying pilgrimage. It is near at hand. Whether you are lying down or rising up, going out or coming in, in the streets or in the house, in public or in private, in the bedroom or in the sanctuary, God is everywhere. And wherever he is, there is a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God.

In a moment, in the greatest emergency, you may lift up your heart to the Lord. And in a moment your cry will be heard, and your request granted.

Remember, the throne of grace is everywhere. On land or sea, at home or abroad, in public or in private, "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry" (Ps. 34:15).

No matter where you go, O believer, you carry with you the intercession of the Spirit below, and you have the comfort of knowing that you have the intercession of Jesus above.

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer pray'r;
he himself has bid thee pray,
therefore will not tell thee nay.

Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with thee bring;
for his grace and pow'r are such,
none can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
set my conscience free from guilt.

Lord, I come to thee for rest,
take possession of my breast;
there thy blood-bought right maintain,
and without a rival reign.

While I am a pilgrim here,
let thy love my spirit cheer;
as my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
lead me to my journey's end.

Show me what I have to do,
ev'ry hour my strength renew:
let me live a life of faith,
let me die thy people's death.

(John Newton, 1779)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.