All tagged prayer
It is almost sad to be completing our study of "The Power of Prayer" by E. M. Bounds this morning... But I realize that it isn't actually the end, and that tomorrow morning I will begin my daily offerings anew with many of our lessons on prayer guiding me.
As we draw near to completing this year of studying the subject of prayer I have been contemplating a statement that I read this morning during my time of devotion. It involves both our receipt of God's answer to the prayers we have prayed, and also how we justify our not having received an answer after we’ve asked Him for something.
Today I read a devotional message titled "The Convincing Truth". In this message Pastor E. M. Bounds spoke of the real glory of our prayers, and our right relationship with God that leads us to glorify Him through our prayers. As I thought on this subject, my mind wandered back. I recalled a night years ago when I went to my intercessory prayer meeting and something incredible happened...
We are drawing near to the end of another year, and so is the devotional book (“The Power of Prayer” by E. M. Bounds) that I have been reading. But there are still a few more days before I will begin rewriting and editing my past thoughts on another devotional classic… “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. However, this year isn’t quite complete yet and this morning Pastor Bounds presented us with two key points in his message on experiencing a prayerful relationship with God, the first being that answered prayer is the evidence of God's existence, and the second is that answered prayer is proof of a right relationship with God. This is how Bounds expressed himself and where it led me…
Today we will touch on two specific topics that speak to me, the first is Satan's sly desire to take the joy of victory from us once he has lost the battle for our soul, and the second is the ineffectiveness of money, and things, to win the souls of the lost to Jesus.
Yesterday we considered the effect that worry had on our bodies, minds, and souls, so today let’s delve deeper into the peace of God and the effect that prayer has on worry and stress. I am contemplating two of these thoughts this morning as I read Philippians 4 once again and read further into what Pastor E. M. Bounds has to say on this subject.
My devotional reading this morning began with an incredibly insightful statement. Pastor E. M. Bounds began by writing "Worry is the epidemic evil of mankind. Everybody is influenced by worry.", and as I thought about this observation, I came to the conclusion that He was so right. We do worry about many things in our lives... even everyday things. It made me think of my mother who was the consummate worrier. I would often tease her by saying that if she didn’t have something of her own to worry about, she would borrow someone else’s troubles and worry about those. I am making worry sound trivial, but it isn’t. Let’s visit this subject today.
The message in my morning devotional reading was an interesting one... There have been times when I have listened to missionaries speak at church only to wonder if they truly received the call. There was a sense of the adventurer about them, but not a spirit of prayer and godliness. Sometimes this is evident in what they present as their accomplishments while fulfilling what they believe to be the “Great Commission” ... They speak of doing good things like building homes, working in healthcare, or performing other such concrete worldly deeds. They speak of saved lives but there is no talk of saved souls. They speak of works that any moral man might accomplish, but where is Jesus in them? What I hear sounds at best like a pilgrimage or personal spiritual vacation. What is the great commission really? Let’s explore this.
People like to hear that whatever they ask for in prayer they will receive; but having stipulations placed on those desires? Well, not so much. So when Jesus tells us that if we abide in Him He will give us what we ask for many who pray tend to gloss over what abiding in Him actually means. This concept of abiding is one that is often misunderstood, you see, we are not meant to be spoiled little children who will ask for extravagant things and throw fits when we don’t get them, or who test our parents by asking them for things that go against everything they stand for, or that they know will ultimately be harmful. Many believers believe they can behave this way and do this as if their desires outweigh all of God’s wisdom, and even His will. Today let’s look at abiding in Jesus, and the importance of the will of God. Our opening scripture verse is from John 15, and one that people quote quite often as if trying to corner Jesus in legality.
I was lifted up by the message and scripture of my devotional reading today. The scripture reading that blessed me so immensely was from 2nd Corinthians. And, as I read this scripture, the words of my devotional reading this morning echoed in them. They spoke to me of Jesus being the pattern of prayer, selfless, and the great intercessor who stands at the right hand of God... In this I could see a lesson in how we should all pray for others… it was a lesson in love, and in comforting others.
I was reading Pastor E. M. Bounds this morning and he was writing about a phenomenon that is hard to understand but is true none the less... Prayer Brings Heaven to Earth. There are certain times in worship when Heaven and Earth come into close proximity and can indeed touch one another... baptism, communion, marriage, and the burial of loved ones are a few, but in each case our prayers are the key that unlocks the door and makes this happen. We see this best when we read how Elijah saw the awesome power of God, but it wasn’t until God spoke with him in a low whisper and their conversation (prayer) began that Elijah truly came close to God and experienced Him.
I wrote much of this morning's devotional offering a few years ago, but after reading it again, I thought I would share it with all the readers of my morning devotional thoughts... it speaks of my journey, of prayer, and of God's hand in our lives, and it deals with something that is all but lost in the church today. So, this morning we will deal with praying from a broad base of experience, and with a heightened sense of compassion that years of living, and suffering, give us. This is our contemplation and was also the subject of my morning devotional reading
Calling out to God in prayer is for all mankind. This is my contemplation for the morning, and the joy of my day... God loves us all and allows us audience with Him through our prayers. He is with us always, hears our prayers, and is merciful in the abundance of His forgiveness. If sinners were not able to pray we would all have been lost long ago.
In my devotional reading today, Pastor E. M. Bounds wrote of two prayers; the petition of faith and the prayer of submission. Praying in the Word and praying in the Spirit; both are incredibly important... praying in the Word is conveying our thoughts and needs using biblical constructs, while praying in the Spirit conveys the longings of our very souls. Pastor Bounds used Abraham's prayers for Sodom as an example of both petition, and submission, when he wrote these words:
My devotional reading this morning was on the subject of the universality of prayer. I have been reading Pastor E. M. Bounds this year, and today he was writing on the impact that our prayers have on not only us personally, but the world as a whole. This is a subject that is near to my heart, and so when he wrote on this subject it grabbed my attention instantly. Listen as he makes this statement, and then let’s delve into it.