The reality of prayerBounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Religion
The reality of prayer
Bounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Jesus Christ -- Prayers; Prayer -- Christianity
Almighty God is concerned in our praying. He wills it, He commands it,
He inspires it. Jesus Christ in Heaven is ever praying. Prayer is His
law and His life. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to pray. He prays for
us “with groanings which cannot be uttered.” All these show the deep
concern of God in prayer. It discloses very clearly how vital it is to
His work in this world, and how far-reaching are its possibilities.
Prayer forms the very center of the heart and will of God concerning
men. “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give
thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Prayer is the pole star around which rejoicing and thanksgiving revolve.
Prayer is the heart sending its full and happy pulsations up to God
through the glad currents of joy and thanksgiving.
By prayer God’s Name is hallowed. By prayer God’s kingdom comes. By
prayer is His kingdom established in power and made to move with
conquering force swifter than the light. By prayer God’s will is done
till earth rivals Heaven in harmony and beauty. By prayer daily toil is
sanctified and enriched, and pardon is secured, and Satan is defeated.
Prayer concerns God, and concerns man in every way.
God has nothing too good to give in answer to prayer. There is no
vengeance pronounced by God so dire which does not yield to prayer.
There is no justice so flaming that is not quenched by prayer.
Take the record and attitude of Heaven against Saul of Tarsus. That
attitude is changed and that record is erased when the astonishing
condition is announced, “Behold he prayeth.” The recreant Jonah is
alive, and on dry ground, with scarce the taste of the sea or the smell
of its weeds about him, as he prays. “Out of the belly of hell cried I,
and thou heardst my voice.”
“The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the depth closed me
round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
“I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars
was about me for ever; yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,
O Lord my God.
“When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer
came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry
land.”
Prayer has all the force of God in it. Prayer can get anything which God
has. Thus prayer has all of its plea and its claim in the name of Jesus
Christ, and there is nothing too good or great for God to give that
name.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account