I ask a question, Are we as "Christians" still taking the command of prayer lightly? Leonard Ravenhill one of the great preachers from yesterday, said, "Tell me how much time you spend alone with God and I will tell you how Spiritual you are" now there is something to think about. Do we wrestle with God the way Jacob did or do we avoid him? I once herd someone say "the Apostles prayed 10 days and only preached ten minuets. Now a days We pray ten minuets and preach ten days." Where has all the prayer gone?
Everywhere in Scripture we see the command to Pray." If we were not commanded we would not come"-Charles Spurgeon. We take for granted the privilege it is to Speak with God and to have an actual, tangible and real, relationship with Him by way of prayer. Jesus always prayed to the Father. Paul the apostle wrote "Pray without ceasing". Everywhere through out scripture you see all the people of God were people of Prayer. It is how they communicated with God and how God communicated with them. Prayer is one of the deepest intimacy's with The Lord Almighty yet we avoid it at all cost. We avoid real and deep personal time spent in the "bosom" of our Great Father. But that must change.
Prayer is the communication, a vital part of any relationship, that God has given us threw Himself. Spurgeon Said the reason sometimes its so hard to come so often in deep prayer is the disbelief of God hearing and answering ( From the Sermon "Golden key to prayer" by Charles Spurgeon) Jesus asked in Luke 18 1-3 if he would find any body when he returned in prayer believing him on his saying of coming to prayer and being herd. Spurgeon also said If He commanded us we must be confident in coming boldly before The throne of Grace, and not be afraid, since He calls us. For the Almighty clearly says He will listen when come before Him and not only will he listen but His grace is on our side and sufficient where we lack even in prayer. For God is Love and being so He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross in our own place If the Father gave us His son what else wont he give us?(from the Serom of Golden Key to prayer Spurgeon) Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, with him graciously give us all things?" Remember God is for us. Look at what the late great Charles Spurgeon wrote "The streaming wounds of Jesus are the sure guarantees for answered prayer."
If you didn't catch that quote read it again. If God sent His Son for us what would He hold out on us? Nothing. So don't be afraid and come boldly before His Throne! For He has given us his Son and when we come He answers.
But Pray knowing that it is important to always ask for His will to be done and not your own. Remember He does not give us what we always want but always what is best for us - Spurgeon. And only God knows what's best. But be of good cheer and ask. May His Grace Be with you always and forever more.
Here is a link for some highly recommended puritan prayers to look over http://www.oldlandmarks.com/puritan.htm
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