How to Live a Life of Prayer: Classic Christian Writers on the Divine Privilege of Prayer
192
How to Live a Life of Prayer: Classic Christian Writers on the Divine Privilege of Prayer
192Overview
Everybody wants to live a life of prayer—but how?
The words of classic Christian writers still speaks to us today, addressing the questions and concerns we have about prayer. In this rich collection of encouraging writings, E. M. Bounds, S. D. Gordon, Andrew Murray, and John Wesley thoughtfully explore a variety of topics, including the purpose and power of prayer, hindrances to prayer, the “how to’s” of praying, and Jesus’ habits of prayer.
Prayer truly is a powerful tool available to Christians, and these giants of the faith will encourage you to experience a vibrant, two-way communication with the God who longs for communion with His people.
Lightly updated for modern-day understanding, this accessible book offers spiritual insight and challenge that spans more than three centuries.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781683228011 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Barbour Publishing, Incorporated |
| Publication date: | 05/01/2018 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 192 |
| File size: | 306 KB |
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Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Who
Prayer is not a solo endeavor. Several alive and active "beings"— God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word, you, and others — are involved, each with a particular role to play and special relationship to each other. Although the supernatural participants remain the same, the prayer's prayer is forever changing and evolving in response to the circumstances and growth of the petitioner and those for whom he or she is praying and according to the answers and provisions received. Pray that God would make all this and more clear to you as you consider "who's who" in the cast of prayer participants.
God
A Personal God
E. M. Bounds
Prayer ascends to God by an invariable law, even by more than law, by the will, the promise and the presence of a personal God. The answer comes back to earth by all the promise, the truth, the power, and the love of God.
All the Attributes of God
E. M. Bounds
God holds all good in His own hands. That good comes to us through our Lord Jesus Christ because of His all-atoning merits, by asking it in His name. The sole command in which all the others of its class belong is "ask, seek, knock." And the one and sole promise is its counterpart, its necessary equivalent and results: "It shall be given, ye shall find, it shall be opened unto you."
God is so much involved in prayer and its hearing and answering, that all of His attributes and His whole being are centered in that great fact. It distinguishes Him as peculiarly beneficent, wonderfully good, and powerfully attractive in His nature. "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come" (Psalm 65:2)....
Not only does the Word of God stand surety for the answer to prayer, but all the attributes of God conspire to the same end. God's veracity is at stake in the engagements to answer prayer. His wisdom, His truthfulness, and His goodness are involved. God's infinite and inflexible rectitude is pledged to the great end of answering the prayers of those who call upon Him in time of need. Justice and mercy blend into oneness to secure the answer to prayer. It is significant that the very justice of God comes into play and stands hard by God's faithfulness in the strong promise God makes of the pardon of sins and of cleansing from sin's pollutions in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God's kingly relation to man, with all of its authority, unites with the fatherly relation and with all of its tenderness to secure the answer to prayer.
Who God Is
S. D. Gordon
There are five common, everyday words I want to bring you to suggest something of who God is. The first is the word father. "Father" stands for loving strength. A father plans, provides for, and protects his loved ones. If you will think of the finest father you ever knew that anybody ever had, think of him now. Then remember this: God is a father, only He is so much finer a father than the finest father you ever knew of. And His will for your life down here is a father's will for the one most dearly loved.
The second word is a finer word, the word mother. If father stands for strength, mother stands for love — great, patient, tender, enduring love. What would she not do for her loved one! Think of the finest mother you ever knew, then remember this: God is a mother, only He is so much finer a mother than the finest mother you ever knew.
The references in scripture to God as a mother are numerous. "Under his wings" [Psalm 91:4] is a mother figure. The mother-bird gathers her brood up under her wings [see Matthew 23:37] to feel the heat of her body and for protection. The word mother is not used for God in the Bible. I think it is because with God "father" includes "mother." It takes more of the human to tell the story than of the divine. With God, all the strength of the father and all the fine love of the mother are combined in that word father. And His will for us is a wise, loving mother's will for the darling of her heart.
The third word is friend. I mean a friend who loves you for your sake only and steadfastly loves without regard for any return. If you will think for a moment of the very best friend you ever knew anybody to have, then remember this: God is a friend. Only He is ever so much better a friend than the best friend you ever knew of. And the plan He has thought out for your life is such a one as that word would suggest.
The fourth word I almost hesitate to use. The hesitancy is because the word and its relationship are spoken of lightly. I mean that rare fine word lover, where two have met and acquaintance has deepened into friendship, and that in turn into the holiest emotion, the highest friendship. What would he not do for her! She becomes the new human center of his life. In a good sense he worships the ground she walks on. And she will leave wealth for poverty to be with him in the coming days. She will leave home and friends and go to the ends of the earth if his service calls him there. Think of the finest lover, man or woman, you ever knew anybody to have, then remember this — and let me say it in reverent tones — God is a lover. Only He is so much finer a lover than the finest lover you ever knew of. And His will, His plan for your life and mine is a lover's plan for his only loved one.
The fifth word is this fourth word spun a finer degree: husband. This is the word on the man side for the most hallowed relationship of earth. This is the lover relationship in its perfection stage. With men husband is not always a finer word than lover. The more's the pity. In God's thought a husband is a lover plus. He is all that the finest lover is, and more: more tender, more eager, more thoughtful. Two lives are joined and begin living one life. Two wills, yet one. Two persons, yet one purpose. Duality in unity. Call to mind for a moment the best husband you ever knew any woman to have, then remember that God is a husband; only He is an infinitely more thoughtful husband than any you ever knew. And His will for your life is a husband's will for his life's friend and companion.
Now please don't take one of these words and say, "I like that." How we whittle God down to our narrow conceptions! You must take all five words and think the finest meaning into each, and then put them all together to get a close-up idea of God. He is all that, and more.
Jesus
Threefold Cord
S. D. Gordon
Jesus came to do somebody's else will. The controlling purpose of His life was to please His Father. That was the secret of the power of His earthly career. Right relationship to God, an intimate prayer-life, marvelous power over men and with men — those are the strands in the threefold cord of His life.
His Divine Business
E. M. Bounds
[Jesus Christ's] earthly life was made up largely of hearing and answering prayer. His heavenly life is devoted to the same divine business.
The Rightful Prince
S. D. Gordon
In its simplest meaning, prayer has to do with a conflict. It is the deciding factor in a spirit conflict. The scene of the conflict is the earth. The purpose of the conflict is to decide the control of the earth and its inhabitants. The conflict runs back into the misty ages of the creation time.
The rightful prince of the earth is Jesus, the King's Son. There is a pretender prince who was once rightful prince. He was guilty of a breach of trust. But like King Saul, after his rejection and David's anointing in his place, he has been and is trying his best to hold the realm and oust the rightful ruler.
The rightful Prince is seeking by utterly different means — namely, persuasion — to win the world back to its first allegiance. He had a fierce run-in with the pretender, and after a series of victories won the great victory of the resurrection morning.
There is one peculiarity of this conflict that makes it different from all others: a decided victory and the utter vanquishing of the leading general has not stopped the war. And the reason is remarkable. The Victor has a deep loveambition to not merely beat the enemy but win men's hearts, by their free consent. And so, with marvelous love born of wisdom and courage, the conflict is left open, for men's sake.
Christ as Intercessor
Andrew Murray
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
In His life on earth Christ began His work as Intercessor. Think of the high priestly prayer on behalf of His disciples and of all who would believe in His name through them. Think of His words to Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32) — a proof of how intensely personal His intercession is. And on the cross He spoke as intercessor: "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34).
Now that He is seated at God's right hand, He continues, as our great High Priest, the work of intercession without ceasing. Yet He gives His people power to take part in it. Seven times in His farewell discourse He repeated the assurance that He would do what they asked.
The power of heaven was to be at the disciples' disposal. God waited for the disciples to ask for His grace and power. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit they would know what the will of God was. They would learn in faith to pray in His name. He would present their requests to the Father, and through united intercession the Church would be clothed with the power of the Spirit.
Holy Spirit
One Inlet of Power
S. D. Gordon
There is one inlet of power in the life — the Holy Spirit. He is power. He is in everyone who opens his door to God. He eagerly enters every open door. He comes in by our invitation and consent. His presence within is the vital thing.
But with many of us, while He is inside, He is not in control. He is inside as guest, not as host. He is hindered in His natural movements so that He cannot do what He wants. And so we are not conscious or are only partially conscious of His presence. And others are still less so. But to yield to His mastery, to cultivate His friendship, to give Him full sway — that will result in what is called power.
The Other Christ
E. M. Bounds
How truly does the other Christ, the other Comforter, the Holy Spirit, represent Jesus Christ as the Christ of prayer! This other Christ, the Comforter, plants Himself not in the waste of the mountain nor far into the night, but in the chill and the night of the human heart, to rouse it to the struggle, and to teach it the need and form of prayer. How the divine Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, puts into the human heart the burden of earth's almighty need and makes the human lips give voice to its mute and unutterable groanings!
What a mighty Christ of prayer is the Holy Spirit! How He quenches every flame in the heart but the flame of heavenly desire! How He quiets, like a weaned child, all the self-will, until in will, in brain, and in heart, and by mouth, we pray only as He prays: making "intercession for the saints, according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27).
Master Intercessor S. D. GORDON Let the Spirit teach you how to pray. The more you pray, the more you will find yourself saying to yourself, "I don't know how to pray." God understands that and has a plan to cover our need there. There is One who is a master intercessor. He understands praying perfectly. He is the Spirit of prayer. God has sent Him down to live inside you and me, partly to teach us the fine art of prayer. Let Him teach you.
God's Word
Miraculous
E. M. Bounds
Our gospel belongs to the miraculous. It was projected on the miraculous plane. It cannot be maintained but by the supernatural. Take the supernatural out of our holy religion, and its life and power are gone, and it degenerates into a mere mode of morals. The miraculous is divine power. Prayer has in it this same power. Prayer brings this divine power into the ranks of men and puts it to work. Prayer brings into the affairs of earth a supernatural element. Our gospel when truly presented is the power of God. Never was the church more in need of those who can and will test Almighty God. Never did the church need more than now those who can raise up everywhere memorials of God's supernatural power, memorials of answers to prayer, memorials of promises fulfilled.
God in Print
S. D. Gordon
Give the Book of God its place in prayer. Prayer is not talking to God — simply. It is listening first, then talking. Prayer needs three organs of the head: an ear, a tongue, and an eye. First an ear to hear what God says, then a tongue to speak, then an eye to watch for the result. Bible study is the listening side of prayer. The purpose of God comes in through the ear, passes through the heart, taking on the tinge of your personality, and goes out at the tongue as prayer. It is pathetic what a time God has getting a hearing down here. He is ever speaking, but even where there may be some inclination to hear, the sounds of earth are choking out the sound of His voice. God speaks in His Word. The most we know of God comes to us here. This Book is God in print. God Himself speaks in this Book. Studying it keenly, intelligently, reverently will reveal God's great will. What He says will utterly change what you say.
You
Chosen
S. D. Gordon
God will do as a result of the praying of the humblest one here what otherwise He would not do. Yes, I can put it stronger than that, for the Book does. God will do in answer to the prayer of the weakest one here what otherwise He could not do. Listen to Jesus' own words in that last long quiet talk He had with the eleven men between the upper room and the olive grove. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16, emphasis added). Mark that word may; not shall this time but may. "Shall" throws the matter over on God — His purpose. "May" throws it over on us — our cooperation. That is to say, our praying makes it possible for God to do what otherwise He could not do.
One with a True Perspective
S. D. Gordon
The rightly rounded Christian life has two sides: the outside and the inner side. To most of us the outer side seems the greater. The living, the serving, the giving, the doing, the absorption in life's work, the contact with people — these take the greater thought and time of us all. They seem to be the great business of life even to those of us who thoroughly believe in the inner life.
But when the inner eyes open, the change of perspective is first ludicrous, then terrific, then pathetic. Ludicrous, because of the change of proportions; terrific, because of the issues at stake; pathetic, because of strong men that see not and keep spending their strength whittling sticks. The outer side is narrow in its limits. It has to do with food and clothing, bricks and lumber, time and the passing hour, the culture of the mind, the joys of social contact, the smoothing of the way for the suffering. And it needs not be said that these are right; they belong in the picture; they are its physical background.
The inner side includes all of these, and stretches infinitely beyond. Its limits are broad. It touches the inner spirit. It moves in upon the motives, the loves, the heart. It moves out upon the myriad spirit-beings. It moves up to the arm of God in cooperation with His great love-plan for a world.
Shall we follow for a day one who has gotten the true perspective? Here is the outer side: a humble home, checking a ledger, pushing the plow, tending the stock, doing the chores, and all the rest of the endless, day-by-day, commonplace duties that must be done. This one whom we are following unseen is quietly, cheerfully doing his daily round, with a bit of sunshine in his face, a light in his eye, and lightness in his step, and the commonplace becomes uncommon because of the presence of this man with the uncommon spirit. He is working for God. No, better, he is working with God. He has an unseen Friend at his side. That changes all. The common drudgery ceases to be common and ceases to be drudgery because it is done for such an uncommon Master.
Now here is the inner side where the larger work of life is being done. Here is the quiet bit of time alone with God, with the Book. The door is shut, as the Master said. Now it is the morning hour with a bit of artificial light, for the sun is busy yet farther east. Now it is the evening hour, with the sun speeding toward western service, and the bed invitingly near. There is a looking up into God's face then reverent reading, and then a simple, intelligent pleading with its many variations of this —"Your will be done, in the Victor's name." God Himself is here, in this inner room. The angels are here. This room opens out into and is in direct touch with a spirit space as wide as the earth. The horizon of this room is as broad as the globe. God's presence with this man makes it so.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "How to Live a Life of Prayer"
by .
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Table of Contents
Introduction,
Who,
God,
Jesus,
Holy Spirit,
God's Word,
You,
Others,
The Relationship of Prayer Participants,
What,
Prayer,
Primacy of Faith,
Persistence,
Promises,
Possibilities,
Providence,
Power,
Limits,
Praise and Worship,
Presence,
Purpose,
Petitions,
Expectations,
Hindrances,
Answers,
Proof,
Proof in Bible Days,
Proof in Present Day,
When,
Where,
Why,
How (in what way and by what means),
The "How" of God's Will,
The "How" of Relationship,
The "How" of Method,
The "How" of Approach,
The "How" of Listening,
The "How" of Praying for Others,