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F.B. Meyer

Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847 - 1929). English Baptist pastor, author, and evangelist born in London. Converted at eight, he studied at Regent’s Park College and graduated from London University in 1869. Ordained in 1870, he pastored in Liverpool, York, and London, notably at Christ Church, Lambeth, and Regent’s Park Chapel, growing congregations through accessible preaching. A key figure in the Keswick Convention’s holiness movement, he emphasized deeper spiritual life and social reform, advocating for the poor and prisoners. Meyer wrote over 75 books, including The Secret of Guidance (1896) and Paul: A Servant of Jesus Christ, with millions of copies sold globally. He traveled to North America, Asia, and South Africa, influencing figures like D.L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon. Married twice—first to Jane Elder in 1874, then Lucy Holloway in 1898—he had one daughter. His temperance work led to 500 pub closures in York. Meyer’s devotional writings and Bible studies remain influential in evangelical circles.
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F.B. Meyer emphasizes the necessity of yielding oneself completely to Christ in order to experience true fulfillment and transformation. He shares his personal journey of surrender, illustrating that while the initial step may be daunting, it leads to a life of beauty and happiness under God's guidance. Meyer encourages believers to confront their fears of total surrender, reminding them that God desires to remove harmful elements from their lives and replace them with blessings. He highlights the importance of prayer and seeking God in solitude, as many have found their breakthrough moments away from the crowd. Ultimately, Meyer calls for a willingness to be made willing, trusting in God's goodness and love.
You Have Missed It
You always will that way. It is inside. It is in the Holy Ghost. It is in Christ. Heaven is there. It is there for all. But believe me, you cannot get it unless you take the preparatory step. Therefore you must get alone as I did sixteen years ago; you must kneel down before Christ and say: "Christ, I give Thee myself, my will. With my will I yield to Thee. Thou art the Potter; I am the clay. Impose Thy will upon me." And mind you, Christ will say to you: "What about this? " and if you can look up and say; "Yes, that!, Thine," He will go forward and make you beautiful and happy. But if you refuse, you will stop there, you will be dwarfed, you will thwart Christ. At Keswick, a little village in the Cumberland Hills, where we meet once a year to talk about these things, if you go out at ten o'clock, at eleven o'clock, at twelve o'clock, at one o'clock at night, you will see lights burning. My heart has often gone up in prayer because I know that every light means a Jabbok, and that at those places souls are yielding to God. At Northfield also a brother clergyman said to me last convention: "Mr. Meyer, the work has not been done in the auditorium, but it has been done in the woods at night where we have gone to settle it with God." Remember this. When I gave myself to God that night, the devil said: "Don't do it! If you let God have an inch, He will want all. If you yield in one thing you will have to yield in everything, and there is no knowing what you may not come to." At first I thought there was something in it. Then I remembered my daughter, who was a little wilful then, and loved her own way. I thought to myself as I knelt: "Supposing that she were to come and say"-- "Father, from to-night I am going to put my life into your hand; do with it what you will." Would I call her mother to my side and say: Here is a chance to torment her. What would mortify her? what color of dress does she hate? what companion does she .detest? what method of spending her life does she abhor? Tell me, and I will put her through them all. I knew I would not say that. I knew I would say to my wife: " Our child is going to follow our will from now. Do you know of anything that is hurting her?" "Yes; so and so." " Does she love it much?" "Yes." " Ah! she must give it up, but we will make it as easy for her as we can. We must take from her the things that are hurting her, but we will give her everything that will make her life one long summer day of bliss." God will say that to you. He only takes that one thing away because it will hurt you. But oh! He will give, and give, and give! You have no idea what God will do for you. Say: " I am willing." But let me make a confession: I did not say that myself. I said: "I am not willing, O God, but I am willing to be made willing." God help you to make the same prayer!
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Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847 - 1929). English Baptist pastor, author, and evangelist born in London. Converted at eight, he studied at Regent’s Park College and graduated from London University in 1869. Ordained in 1870, he pastored in Liverpool, York, and London, notably at Christ Church, Lambeth, and Regent’s Park Chapel, growing congregations through accessible preaching. A key figure in the Keswick Convention’s holiness movement, he emphasized deeper spiritual life and social reform, advocating for the poor and prisoners. Meyer wrote over 75 books, including The Secret of Guidance (1896) and Paul: A Servant of Jesus Christ, with millions of copies sold globally. He traveled to North America, Asia, and South Africa, influencing figures like D.L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon. Married twice—first to Jane Elder in 1874, then Lucy Holloway in 1898—he had one daughter. His temperance work led to 500 pub closures in York. Meyer’s devotional writings and Bible studies remain influential in evangelical circles.