The Magnification of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Focused Prayer

Today we explore the impact that prayer has on our life and religion. We will also discuss how that occurs, and the importance of that act. As I read Pastor E.M. Bounds this morning I was struck by his strong words "Prayer is not an indifferent, small thing. It is not a sweet little privilege. It is a great prerogative, far-reaching in its effects." After reading this thought I sank back into my chair and let his words sink in. Then, I glanced back at the page and continued to read... "Prayer is not just an episode of the Christian life..... Life is a preparation for and the result of prayer, prayer is the sum of religion."

The Breath of Faith and Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Faith and Prayer

Today let’s discuss the twins of prayer and faith. Pastor E.M. Bounds describes them this way: "one heart brings them both to life. Faith is always praying; prayer is always believing." He ends his devotional by writing by saying "Prayer asks; faith lays its hand on the thing asked for." Faith and prayer are the engines which power the Dynamo of our belief; our relationship with God. They create the spark that jumps the gap between man and God. For our part in this endeavor we must hold fast to our faith and exercise our prayer fervently.

Truth, Worthiness, and the Answer to Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, God’s Truth and Promises

This morning we are contemplating the fact that God means what He says and that includes His Word regarding prayer. Scripture tells us as much. First and foremost to understanding this is the promise that God can't lie. But, how about us? We can, and we do lie, so how is it that we are able to come to the Lord in prayer? How is it that we can possibly be worthy of entering into His presence? It is by His perfect Word, and the promise He gives us in Jesus our redeemer.

An Early Morning Power Outage and Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, God is Light

Our devotional for this morning is regarding the absolute certainty of God, who is light, and who answers prayer. On a day in 2016 I was sitting in complete darkness in my eerily quiet house thinking about the fact that God answers prayer. A severe storm had just passed through and although it had moved off into the distance I could still hear the rumble of thunder... My neighborhood was dark and without power. To those without faith, this is like their prayer life... they sit in darkness with no hope, and no power. But to those of us who trust in the Lord our prayers are answered in the midst of the surrounding darkness and our battery operated cell phones still communicate our faithfulness.

The Eternal Fruit of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Fruit of Prayer

This morning we renew ourselves in studying the fruit of prayer. As we read today’s scripture verse in which Jesus reminds his disciples that they did not chose Him first, but that He chose, and ordained them, we are told that their purpose is to bear fruit for the kingdom of God and that in this endeavor they should pray and receive whatsoever they ask. When we pray during our daily prayers do we consider these words of Christ, or do we simply dwell on being given whatever it is we desire at the moment? Are we bringing forth fruit for the kingdom or simply wanting to partake of it?

Praying the Gospel of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Pray the Gospel

Prayer as a tool for spreading the gospel continues to be our thought this morning, and Pastor E.M. Bounds observes that "The gospel moves altogether too slowly..." and suggests prayer as the cure for this lumbering pace when he says "Prayer, more prayer and better prayer will do the deed." He goes on to write; "This means of grace will give swiftness, splendor, and divinity to the gospel." We live in a world filled with wickedness and unbelievers. Some know who Jesus is by name but have never heard the gospel, while others may be entirely ignorant of God, Jesus, and faith. Our task at hand is to deliver that message and allow these poor souls to make a spiritual decision based on biblical facts and not their own conclusions… then to help them on their spiritual way.

Heroes of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Heroic Prayer

Our souls set alight for God... What a wonderful thought for today, and a powerful use of prayer. Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote: "Prayer opens possibilities for the spread of the gospel.... Prayer makes the gospel move with glorious speed. It moves with God's power and with saintly swiftness." Have we ever considered the fact that prayer should be the first step we take as we witness to others, or send missionaries to distant lands? Those missionaries pray for resources and guidance before taking their first step and setting out to answer the call. Our prayers for them are equally important, and by praying we are stepping out with them to obey the will of God.

On the Proof of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Proving Prayer

The proof of prayer is our study this morning. Although scientists have presented evidence in an attempt to destabilize our belief in its effectiveness, believers continue to experience the positive effects of prayer in their faith and lives. Proving prayer scientifically evades us because it is vaporous and spiritual in nature, but it also shows us hidden things that we could not know or experience otherwise.

God Answers Pray in Many Ways

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, God Answers Prayer

The incredible width and breadth of prayer is our contemplation today. The magnificent blessing and power of prayer should be evident to all believers, and yet some can’t seem to grasp the enormous magnitude of it. God’s promise wasn’t that if we prayed he might do something for us, or that he might give us food, but not something else. No, His promise is that if we pray within His will, and in the name of Jesus, He will give us anything we pray for. What an amazing promise this is. So, if we pray as we should then there is nothing He will not provide us. There are many scriptures that make references to this truth, so let’s begin by using one from the New Testament and another from the Old Testament for reference…

The Loom of Trouble, Faith, and the Prodigal Son

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Faith and the Prodigal Son

We can get caught up in the business of our worldly life to the point where we forget about God, and Jesus Christ, altogether; it is like driving to work and suddenly realizing that we can’t remember how we got to where we are. It is a scary feeling, and so is traveling through our spiritual lives and suddenly realizing that we have gone a great distance without a conscious thought of the Lord. Trouble can do many things like breaking our pride, and it can humble us before the Lord; it can bring us to our knees in prayer, but it can also gently stop us and cause the love within us to well up and flow forth in prayer… and thusly return our thoughts to our Heavenly Father.

Christian Virtues and Suffering

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Lessons in Suffering

Today I encourage you to read through Romans 12; this is a wonderful chapter that tells us how to live each day as Christians. Among instructions such as feeding the hungry and blessing those who persecute us, there is a short little verse that instructs us to constantly pray during our times of trouble. Praying without ceasing is an important theme, and there is another short verse in 1st Thessalonians that tells us the same thing. This verse in Romans instructs us to “be constant in prayer”, and both are repeated biblical reminders of an important message regarding our prayer life… live in constant prayer.

The Language of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Spiritual Language

Molding our souls into the image of God through prayer is the topic for this morning's devotional thought. Pastor E.M. Bounds says this of prayer... "It has everything to do with enriching, broadening, and maturing the soul's experience of God." He stresses this point further by writing this about the Christian... "Therefore, if he does not pray, he is not of the household of faith." Second Corinthians chapter 4 is a wonderful source for studying the change that is occurring within us as we mature as Christians. A verse which summarizes this conversion is verse 16...

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