Personally, I need reminders. I tend to forget the basics from day to day. No where is this more key than in the life of prayer, where Satan is constantly whispering in my ear that prayer does not matter. I don’t think I regularly hear him tell me to skip daily prayer. What I hear is “Do it later…when you have more time.” Yeah, right.
So in the matter of prayer. I have found myself regularly moved to prayer by thoughts and quotes about prayer. What follows is one of my absolute favorites. (Ladies, try to look past the non gender-inclusive language.) This is from one of the great prayer classics, available for your Kindle (or computer) for $.99, Power Through Prayer, by E.M. Bounds…
“Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men…What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men — men of prayer.”
-E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer
So tomorrow, at Edgewood, we’re beginning the “40 Days of Prayer” journey. We’re not starting a new method of evangelism to reach the world; it’s not a new church program. Nothing wrong with these things – we start new stuff at our church from time to time. But I’m excited because during the 40 Days, we will be going directly to God, asking Him to pour down His favor and blessing on our lives and on our efforts to advance His Kingdom and give Him glory. And as we pray in Jesus’ name (prayers that Jesus Himself would pray), He most certainly will do just that.
Here’s my prayer: Lord, open the floodgates of heaven…let it rain!
Entrusted with the Gospel 