The Practice of Prayer

This morning in my quiet time I reached for a familiar book that I hadn't read for awhile.  It is a book of devotions by Andrew Murray.  I searched for August 19th to see what it had.   It really spoke to me, so I want to share it here.  Hopefully, it will speak to you as well.

August 19th - The Practice of Prayer

Galatians 5:24 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

The best preparation for the spirit of prayer is thinking about our miserable fall and our glorious redemption.  These things fill us with a dislike of our present earthly desires and create in us an honest longing after perfection.  Prayer can only be taught by having a true sense of who we are and who we should be.  Then we are filled with a continual longing for God, and can pray only for what is pleasing to God.

We should expect nothing from ourselves but in everything depend on God to enable us to nail the passions and desires of our sinful natures to His cross.  When we see our inability to have goodness of our own, then our attitude becomes true trust in the work of God's Spirit.

It is strange that our highest privilege - fellowship with God in prayer - is sometimes a burden and a failure.  Learn to expect nothing from ourselves. Expect everything from God.  These two thoughts lie at the root of all true prayer.

May my thoughts, Lord, not be centered on me and my needs but on You and Your love.  May my trials become blessings as they compel me to wait on You.  Amen.


Blessings!