08/16/2024
As I read the title of the devotional message that Pastor E.M. Bounds had written this morning I was captured. It read "Bad Praying = Bad Living” but, as I read further, it was actually telling us that the way we live can impact the success of our prayers. When we are actively engaged in sinning it is nearly impossible to pray as we should. Oh, we might say the words, but the connection to our heart is broken, and our outreach towards God is without sincerity and strength.
“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.”
Isaiah 1:15 ESV
Bounds started by describing a very sad situation in which our lives can handcuff our prayers. One that can only be resolved by repenting, much prayer, and a change in the way we live our lives. He goes on to say:
"Bad living means bad praying and, in the end, no praying at all. The stream of prayer cannot rise higher than the fountain of living." – E. M. Bounds
Have you ever had times in your life when you would begin to pray and could never get further than "forgive me Father"? Sometimes what we have done in our lives interrupts our prayers, or at the very least, requires a change in us, and fervent cries for forgiveness. It is hard to have a conversation until our relationship with Him is restored to one of righteousness. Sometimes this comes easily, but often it requires a longer period of contrition, change, and earnest reasoning with God.
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”"
Isaiah 1:16-18 ESV
Certain changes in our lives take time and practice to accomplish... They take a heartfelt desire to change, education in the ways that are right (God's Word), and the patience of our Heavenly Father (acting as our coach and teacher). Then as prayer is offered and we overcome the mistakes made as we stumble over them during our lesson, we become a different person and our full and conversant prayer with the Lord is restored.
So in those times when our sins interrupt our ability to pray beyond a plea for forgiveness, and we can't seem to find the face of the Lord before us, there is hope in His grace, and a path to His mercy through His Holy Word, which brings us to a change in our character and lives. Pastor Bounds gave us these words to contemplate:
"We must learn this lesson well. Righteous character and Christ-like conduct give us a peculiar and favored standing in prayer before God." E. M. Bounds
So even when we struggle and sweat in prayer, seeking the face of God and a return to His embrace, there is hope and He encourages us onward, but if we give into the sin that has separated us, then the consequences are grave indeed; we are estranged from God and the world will have had its way with us.
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."”
Isaiah 1:19-20 ESV
This morning I pray that our prayers are full and not limited by sinful situations in our lives. I pray that we find His face easily before us and that our prayers are heard readily. But, for those who are struggling this morning I pray that you hold the course and seek His forgiveness with remorseful tears of contrition, and that a change in your lives and character restores your relationship once again.
I thank God for His grace and mercy today because whether our sins are easily overcome and quickly forgiven or require much sweat and prayer, we all are sinners and must lean mightily on His merciful love, His grace, the redemption of Jesus, and God’s own deep desire to forgive and heal us.
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for cleansing us with the blood of Jesus, and restoring us to you. We thank you for hearing the pleas of your Son Jesus who asked that you forgive us as He hung on the cross, and we ask that you hear the echoes of our cries as we beg for your forgiveness through many tears, and an overflowing of remorse and contrition. Change our hearts Father, and restore our prayers. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sent your only begotten Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. Holy are you who has washed away our sin with His blood and has restored our prayers to the golden bowl. Sweet is the smell of the smoke of burning incense that carries them up before the mercy seat, and wafts about you like a wreath, a holy cloud. Great are you, and we not only thank you, but give you all the glory for the transformation we have undergone, and the forgiveness you have bestowed upon us. Hear our prayers today Father, and let them be righteous and full. Praised be your name as we dine with you now and forevermore.
Amen!
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:29 ISV
“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”
John 9:31 ESV
But in Jesus Christ we are saved…
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:5-6 ESV
“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Luke 23:34 ESV
Rich Forbes