Prayer Reflections for Monday July 18

E.M. Bounds is one of the best known writers on prayer. Reflect on his thoughts about devotion and prayer:

"The very essence of prayer is the spirit of devotion. Without devotion prayer is an empty form, a vain round of words...Prayer must be aflame. Its ardor must consume. Prayer without fervor is as a sun without light or heat, or a flower without beauty or fragrance. A soul devoted to God is a fervent soul, and prayer is a creature of that flame." 

Listen to the consuming devotion of the Psalmist in Psalm 63:

              ¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

                        my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

                ²        So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

                ³        Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

                ⁴        So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

                ⁵        My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

                ⁶        when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

                ⁷        for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

                ⁸        My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

                ⁹        But those who seek to destroy my life

shall go down into the depths of the earth;

                ¹⁰        they shall be given over to the power of the sword;

they shall be a portion for jackals.

                ¹¹        But the king shall rejoice in God;

all who swear by him shall exult,

for the mouths of liars will be stopped." 

 

What a pleasure it is to be able to pray to the one who has captured our hearts with his love. May our devotion be ever growing and manifest in a prayer life that is aflame with our passion for Him and His will.

Prayer Tip: I spoke Sunday about setting aside specific times of prayer and make them a part of your life rhythm. One way to do this is to follow a long standing Christian tradition of having a time of morning prayers, mid-day prayers, and evening prayers. I find it helpful to focus on the character and nature of God in my morning prayers. This gets my attention flowing in the right direction to start the day. One way this can be done is to read a psalm and on a sheet of paper list if there are any of the following: a characteristic of God revealed, a work that God displayed, and/or a promise that God that has been made. Then pray in view of these. What a great way to better understand God, the object of our devotion.

Note: This blog is a follow-up from a Sunday morning sermon at Snohomish Community Church. I will be posting a blog a day on prayer and a prayer tip from July 18-22.

 

Comments

[Sam]

Like the way the congregation got evolved in the learning process in going through the ACTS model of prayer. I was wondering why we apparently had to go back over hundred years to find an example in George Muller to demonstrate the power or results of praying. Are there any present day evidence of "mountains being moved" today? Or are we in the west result driven. There are plenty examples in the bible that God is slow to respond to the prayers of his people; the Israelites prayed for over 400 years to be freed before God responded. There are many more that show that our prayers may not have to much to do about getting God to move as it is about God moving in and through my life to be come more like Him.
I no longer pray for results, God's "will"will be done, I desire to experience what you describe in your blog today, the amazing access in be in the presence of God in the Spirit. (Rom.8:5-8). Thanks Wayne for your passion for Jesus. Sam