«　WEEK 11　DAY 4　»

　　Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

　　2 Tim. 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

　　We can discover one law from man's physical life. The human body needs a revival every morning. ……The morning hour flies by quickly. One hour is over in no time. This is why the Word of the Lord says, “Redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16). The period of time that needs to be redeemed the most is six to seven o'clock in the morning. During this hour, every minute is precious. We have to redeem this time.

　　David said in Psalm 119:147, “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.” The crying here is to call by saying “O Lord!” It is also to pray and to speak to the Lord. To cry unto the Lord is to call on Him and to speak to Him. We cannot call on Him without praying to Him, and we cannot say His name without speaking to Him. The longer we speak to the Lord, the better it is. The calling plus the speaking to the Lord is like a man's deep breathing. When you speak out all that you have, you are breathing out. When you take in the grace of the Lord, you are breathing in. ……In this cycle, spontaneously we are cleansed within, and our whole being becomes healthy.

　　Today, for us, the New Testament believers, the quickest way to receive the Lord's word is not to meditate on His word; rather it is to pray-read His word. ……In pray-reading the Lord's word, there is the crying and the calling, and it will be spontaneous and natural to turn the Lord's word into prayer.

　　If we have tasted the pray-reading, we will treasure every word of the Bible. ……This kind of pray-reading will fully mingle the Lord's word with our spirit. It will give our spirit the greatest exercise. (The Organic Practice of the New Way)

　　During this time alone with the Lord, we should not bring with us anyone or anything. When we go to the Lord early in the morning, we should go to Him alone. We need to leave even our husband or wife behind. Some brothers have the practice of taking their wives with them wherever they go. This practice is good. However, when it is time to meet with the Lord on the mountaintop, a brother should leave his wife at the foot of the mountain. When we meet with the Lord in this way, we need to forget everything and everyone. Forget your possessions, your education, your occupation, your future. Go to the Lord alone without anyone or anything. (Life Study of Exodus, No. 178)

　　However, I am concerned that many, especially the young people in corporate living situations, do not have a private time of prayer. They have only the corporate prayer. I admit that no private time of prayer can replace the corporate time. ……If you do not go to the Lord directly and privately by yourself, your dealing with the Lord will not be very practical or detailed. (Life Message Vol. 1 #2)

　　You could even save your time by arranging to have a ten minute morning watch with each of them. The telephone may be used for this purpose. ……Within one hour, you could contact three persons in the morning. You could contact the same three persons every morning to pray-read with them, fellowship with them, and enjoy Christ with them in a very brief way. Within three months each person can be contacted at least eighty times. After three months of this kind of consistent contact, these ones can be gained for the Lord's interest. (Elders' Training, Book 11: The Eldership and the God-Ordained Way (3), Message 9)