David Prayed- and God's Word Was Hid In His Heart

'Prayer draws its very life from the Bible, and has no standing ground outside of the warrant of the Scriptures. Its very existence and character is dependent on revelation made by God to man in His holy Word. Prayer, in turn, exalts this same revelation, and turns men toward that Word. The nature, necessity and all-comprehending character of prayer, is based on the Word of God.

Psalm 119 is a directory of God's Word. With three or four exceptions, each verse contains a word which identifies, or locates, the Word of God. Quite often, the writer breaks out into supplication, several times praying, "Teach me Thy statutes." So deeply impressed is he with the wonders of God's Word, and of the need for Divine illumination wherewith to see and understand the wonderful things recorded therein, that he fervently prays:

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law."

From the opening of this wonderful Psalm to its close, prayer and God's Word are  intertwined. Almost every phase of God's Word is touched upon by this inspired writer. So thoroughly convinced was the Psalmist of the deep spiritual power of the Word of God that he makes this declaration:

"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."

Here the Psalmist found his protection against sinning. By having God's Word hidden in his heart; in having his whole being thoroughly impregnated with that Word; in being brought completely under its benign and gracious influence, he was enabled to walk to and fro in the earth, safe from the attack of the Evil One, and fortified against a proneness to wander out of the way.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 69)

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Speaking to God- this is PRAYER-

Psa 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

Psa 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

Psa 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

Psa 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psa 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

Psa 119:14  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psa 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:17  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Psa 119:18  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psa 119:19  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

Psa 119:20  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Psa 119:21  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

Psa 119:22  Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

Psa 119:23  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

Psa 119:24  Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

Psa 119:25  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

Psa 119:26  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:27  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

Psa 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

Psa 119:29  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Psa 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Psa 119:31  I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.

Psa 119:32  I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Psa 119:33  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Psa 119:34  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Psa 119:35  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psa 119:36  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Psa 119:37  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Psa 119:38  Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Psa 119:39  Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

Psa 119:40  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Psa 119:41  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

Psa 119:42  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

Psa 119:43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

Psa 119:44  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

Psa 119:45  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

Psa 119:46  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Psa 119:47  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

Psa 119:48  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Psa 119:49  ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psa 119:50  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psa 119:51  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

Psa 119:52  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

Psa 119:53  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Psa 119:54  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Psa 119:55  I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

Psa 119:56  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

Psa 119:57  CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Psa 119:58  I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Psa 119:59  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Psa 119:60  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Psa 119:61  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psa 119:62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Psa 119:64  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Psa 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Psa 119:70  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

Psa 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Psa 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psa 119:73  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psa 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

Psa 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Psa 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

Psa 119:77  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

Psa 119:79  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

Psa 119:80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

Psa 119:81  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Psa 119:82  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

Psa 119:83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

Psa 119:84  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

Psa 119:85  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

Psa 119:86  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

Psa 119:87  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

Psa 119:88  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Psa 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psa 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Psa 119:91  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

Psa 119:92  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

Psa 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Psa 119:94  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

Psa 119:95  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

Psa 119:96  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psa 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:107  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Psa 119:108  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

Psa 119:109  My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Psa 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

Psa 119:111  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Psa 119:112  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Psa 119:113  SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Psa 119:114  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psa 119:115  Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Psa 119:116  Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Psa 119:117  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Psa 119:118  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

Psa 119:119  Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Psa 119:120  My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Psa 119:121  AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.

Psa 119:122  Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.

Psa 119:123  Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

Psa 119:124  Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:125  I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

Psa 119:126  It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

Psa 119:127  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Psa 119:128  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Psa 119:129  PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psa 119:131  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

Psa 119:132  Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Psa 119:133  Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Psa 119:134  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

Psa 119:135  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

Psa 119:136  Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Psa 119:137  TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

Psa 119:138  Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psa 119:139  My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Psa 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psa 119:141  I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

Psa 119:142  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Psa 119:143  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

Psa 119:144  The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

Psa 119:145  KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

Psa 119:146  I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

Psa 119:147  I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

Psa 119:148  Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

Psa 119:149  Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

Psa 119:150  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

Psa 119:151  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

Psa 119:152  Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Psa 119:153  RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Psa 119:154  Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Psa 119:155  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Psa 119:156  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Psa 119:157  Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

Psa 119:158  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Psa 119:159  Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

Psa 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psa 119:161  SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Psa 119:162  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Psa 119:163  I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

Psa 119:164  Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psa 119:166  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

Psa 119:167  My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

Psa 119:168  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Psa 119:169  TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

Psa 119:170  Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

Psa 119:171  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

Psa 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Psa 119:173  Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

Psa 119:174  I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

Psa 119:175  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

Psa 119:176  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

AMEN.

Pray, Read the Word, Pray- All By the Grace of God

'In Psalm 19, David magnifies the Word of God in six statements concerning it. It converts the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, endures eternally, and is true and righteous altogether. The Word of God is perfect, sure, right, pure. It is heart-searching, and at the same time purifying, in its effect. It is no surprise therefore that after considering the deep spirituality of the Word of God, its power to search the inner nature of man, and its deep purity, the Psalmist should close his dissertation with this passage:

"Who can understand his errors?" And then praying after this fashion: "Cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

James recognizes the deep spirituality of the Word, and its inherent saving power, in the following exhortation:

"Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." Jas_1:21

And Peter talks along the same line, when describing the saving power of the Word of

God:

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." 1Pe_1:23 

Not only does Peter speak of being born again, by the incorruptible Word of God, but he informs us that to grow in grace we must be like new-born babes, desiring or feeding upon the "sincere milk of the Word." 1Pe_2:2 

That is not to say, however, that the mere form of words as they occur in the Bible have in them any saving efficacy. But the Word of God, be it remembered, is impregnated with the Holy Spirit. And just as there is a Divine element in the words of Scripture, so also is the same Divine element to be found in all true preaching of the Word, which is able to save and convert the soul.

Prayer invariably begets a love for the Word of God, and sets people to the reading of it. Prayer leads people to obey the Word of God, and puts into the heart which obeys a joy unspeakable. Praying people and Bible-reading people are the same sort of folk. The

God of the Bible and the God of prayer are one. God speaks to man in the Bible; man speaks to God in prayer. One reads the Bible to discover God's will; he prays in order that he may receive power to do that will. Bible-reading and praying are the distinguishing traits of those who strive to know and please God.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 68)

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Why did Jesus pray?

This is why…

Luk_10:22  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Joh_1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Joh_1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Joh_3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Joh_4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh_5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh_5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Joh_5:21  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Joh_5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

Joh_5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Joh_5:26  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Joh_5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh_5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh_5:37  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

Joh_6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Joh_6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh_6:39  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh_6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh_6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Joh_6:46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Joh_6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Joh_8:16  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

Joh_8:18  I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Joh_8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Joh_10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh_10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Joh_10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Joh_12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Joh_12:50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Joh_13:1  Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Joh_13:3  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Joh_14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh_14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Joh_14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Joh_14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh_14:11  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Joh_14:13  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Joh_14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh_14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Joh_14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh_14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Joh_14:31  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Joh_15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Joh_15:16  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.

Joh_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me

Joh_16:3  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Joh_16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Joh_16:16  A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Joh_16:17  Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

Joh_16:23  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Joh_16:25  These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Joh_16:26  At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Joh_16:27  For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Joh_16:28  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Joh_16:32  Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me

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Why did Jesus pray?

He prayed because He loved the FATHER.

Jesus said…

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest,

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest,

enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,

pray to thy Father which is in secret;

and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Mat 6:7  But when ye pray,

use not vain repetitions,

 as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

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Jesus prayed.

Jesus taught us the manner in which we too should pray WITH Him. He said OUR Father.

Truly when we are praying for our 'daily bread' we are praying for the bread of life- our sustenance physically AND spiritually! Jesus said this…

Joh_6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

We need to PRAY for our DAILY BREAD.  And truly to comprehend the WORD of God we need to pray for understanding.

We need to ASK.

Jesus said this more than once-  'ye shall ask the Father in my name', and asking is PRAYER!

Father in heaven, we ask in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, that we might be YOURS, please make this possible. Let the Holy Spirit fill us and keep us in YOU always! Please!

Thank you!

All glory, honor, and praise unto You Lord!

Amen.

Spiritual Breath- Prayer

'Prayer opens the way for the Word of God to run without let or hindrance, and creates the atmosphere which is favourable to the word accomplishing its purpose. Prayer puts wheels under God's Word, and gives wings to the angel of the Lord "having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

Prayer greatly helps the Word of the Lord.

The Parable of the Sower is a notable study of preaching, showing its differing effects and describing the diversity of hearers. The wayside hearers are legion. The soil lies all unprepared either by previous thought or prayer; as a consequence, the devil easily takes away the seed (which is the Word of God) and dissipating all good impressions, renders the work of the sower futile. No one for a moment believes, that so much of present-day sowing would go fruitless if only the hearers would prepare the ground of their hearts beforehand by prayer and meditation.

Similarly with the stony-ground hearers, and the thorny-ground hearers. Although the word lodges in their hearts and begins to sprout, yet all is lost, chiefly because there is no prayer or watchfulness or cultivation following. The good-ground hearers are profited by the sowing, simply because their minds have been prepared for the reception of the seed, and that, after hearing, they have cultivated the seed sown in their hearts, by the exercise of prayer. All this gives peculiar emphasis to the conclusion of this striking parable: "Take heed, therefore, how ye hear." And in order that we may take heed how we hear, it is needful to give ourselves continually to prayer. We have got to believe that underlying God's Word is prayer, and upon prayer, its final success will depend. In the Book of Isaiah we read:

"So shall My word be that goeth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 68)

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Luk 8:5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Luk 8:9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luk 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Luk 8:11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luk 8:16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
Luk 8:17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Luk 8:18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Prayer-

When do we become soldiers of the Lord? At what point in our Christian life? Are we trained first and then we get armor, or are we given our armor right away?  We have to ask ourselves this...at what point do we face the enemy? If we are to comprehend the parable above it would appear that we are in danger right from the get go. The moment the Word of Life is presented to us, in that very moment the enemy is present waiting to tear it away from us. Satan is at work immediately. And if he is at work immediately we have to be readied immediately or risk being ripped away from our Savior.

We've already talked about putting on the whole armor of God and truly we must! And as soon as the armor is on we are to PRAY ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER! So it is NOT strange to comprehend that prayer is so incredibly important as we seek to bring any word of the Lord to anyone.  Prayer protects, prayer prepares, prayer is a necessary to us as our breathing. Prayer is our spiritual breath. Do we want a spiritual life in Christ, then we need spiritual breath. We need to pray, to breath our words to our Heavenly Father.

More tomorrow on all of this, by the grace of our LORD! All in HIS amazing love!!!!

They thought themselves righteous

'In this study however, we turn our thought to one phase of prayer -- that of importunity; the pressing of our desires upon God with urgency and perseverance; the praying with that tenacity and tension which neither relaxes nor ceases until its plea is heard, and its cause is won.

He who has clear views of God, and Scriptural conceptions of the Divine character; who
appreciates his privilege of approach unto God; who understands his inward need of all that God has for him -- that man will be solicitous, outspoken and importunate. In Holy Writ, the duty of prayer, itself, is advocated in terms which are only barely stronger than those in which the necessity for its importunity is set forth. The praying which influences God is declared to be that of the fervent, effectual outpouring of a righteous man. That is to say, it is prayer on fire, having no feeble, flickering flame, no momentary flash, but shining with a vigorous and steady glow.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 67)

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Jas_5:16 '...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'

Fervent prayer.

Yesterday we talked about striving in our praying for each other, today we are talking about being fervent in praying.

Do you EVER pray fervently?  Seriously, you need to ask yourself this question.

Fervency- noun- warmth or intensity of feeling; ardor; zeal; fervor

Praying with warmth, praying with intensity of feeling, praying with ardor, praying with ardor, praying with zeal, praying with fervor- do any of these sound like you and your praying?

If we pray only half-heartedly we really can't expect our praying to avail us much, seriously, we can't!

If we pray as a matter of form, a ritual we enact regularly are we really praying? Do our words rise any higher than the ceiling? Do we rush through those words we say and console ourselves with the belief that at least we did pray, we took time to say those words. We made an effort even if there were no fervency. How many priests in Jesus' day went about their daily rituals in the same manner and had no real love with God? Their words were empty.

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

They OUTWARDLY APPEARED RIGHTEOUS!

You KNOW they thought themselves righteous!

They prayed too.

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

TRUTH!

They prayed! We pray! And we need to pray fervently in truth from the heart!

'The praying which influences God is declared to be that of the fervent, effectual outpouring of a righteous man. That is to say, it is prayer on fire, having no feeble, flickering flame, no momentary flash, but shining with a vigorous and steady glow.'

All by the GRACE of GOD!

Striving in prayer

'In his Epistle to the Romans, Paul indicates the nature of his soldier-life, giving us some views of the kind of praying needed for such a career. He writes:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea."

Paul had foes in Judaea -- foes who beset and opposed him in the form of "unbelieving  men" and this, added to other weighty reasons, led him to urge the Roman Christians to
"strive with him in prayer." That word "strive" indicated wrestling, the putting forth of
great effort. This is the kind of effort, and this the sort of spirit, which must possess the
Christian soldier.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 66)

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Are we to pray for one another? YES, a thousand times, YES!  How are we to pray? STRIVING!  How do you strive? Have you ever strived for anything? When you strive for something you want it desperately. You want it so much you are working hard for it. When we strive in prayer we are praying hard! We are praying desperately!  Striving with someone in prayer is both of you praying for the same thing, both of you seeking the LORD.

Beseeching someone, really wanting someone to do something for you. And Paul did this why? For the LORD JESUS CHRIST'S SAKE and for the LOVE OF THE SPIRIT.   We must LOVE the SPIRIT, we must  LOVE the LORD JESUS CHRIST! And when we LOVE the SPIRIT and LOVE the LORD we will strive with others in prayer.

Do we need to pray to be delivered from unbelievers? Yes. Maybe not as Paul had to, or others in countries where even having a Bible is illegal, but we do need to pray for the same deliverance from unbelievers, they surround us all the time.

Praying for each other, striving together, working together… we MUST. Prayer is so incredibly important so much more important than we may have been taught. PLEASE HEAVNELY FATHER, please help us to learn to pray as we need to PRAY.

We desperately pray for the LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST to RETURN, to DELIVER US from the evil that exists in this world and bring us to live with HIM in HEAVEN!

Please LORD, bless us! Keep us! Save us! By YOUR righteousness, YOUR love!

Are you asleep while at war?

'It is just at this point in much present-day Christian profession, that one may find its greatest defect. There is little, or nothing, of the soldier element in it. The discipline,  self denial, spirit of hardship, determination, so prominent in and belonging to the military
life, are, one and all, largely wanting. Yet the Christian life is warfare, all the way. How comprehensive, pointed and striking are all Paul's directions to the Christian soldier, who is bent on thwarting the devil and saving his soul alive! First of all, he must possess a clear idea of the character of the life on which he has entered. Then, he must know something of his foes -- the adversaries of his immortal soul -- their strength, their skill, their malignity. Knowing, therefore, something of the character of the enemy, and realizing the need of preparation to overcome them, he is prepared to hear the Apostle's decisive conclusion:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

All these directions end in a climax; and that climax is PRAYER. How can the brave warrior for Christ be made braver still? How can the strong soldier be made stronger still? How can the victorious battler be made still more victorious? Here are Paul's explicit directions to that end:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Prayer, and more prayer, adds to the fighting qualities and the more certain victories of God's good fighting-men. The power of prayer is most forceful on the battle-field amid
the din and strife of the conflict. Paul was preeminently a soldier of the Cross. For him, life was no flowery bed of ease. He was no dress-parade, holiday soldier, whose only business was to don a uniform on set occasions. His was a life of intense conflict, the facing of many adversaries, the exercise of unsleeping vigilance and constant effort. And, at its close -- in sight of the end -- we hear him chanting his final song of victory, a I have fought a good fight," and reading between the lines, we see that he is more than conqueror!'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 65)

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This is truth! I can't stress it enough. Anything I could add to this would probably only take away from it. Read it again and again!

We are in a WARFARE! And so many soldiers are SLEEPING!

In what logical war do the soldiers sleep while the battle is raging around them? Yes, soldier's have to sleep, but ask soldiers who have been in war if they sleep when the are in active warfare, when the enemy is right at their door, right in their face, do they sleep? No. How could they?

If an enemy enters your camp, do you sleep, no matter how tired you are? If you do that enemy will slit your throat, that enemy will put a bullet between your closed eyes, that enemy will slip a pillow over your face all while you sleep.  It's NO different in our spiritual warfare. When we know the enemy is attacking us outright we need to PRAY! Truly, pray!  When the enemy is working his wiles deviously we have to be on guard, knowing that he is about even when our life seems to be going better than ever, we must PRAY!

Pray without ceasing.  1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

By the grace of our Lord we WILL pray without ceasing! Please LORD, all in YOU!

Do you believe you are under constant spiritual attack? You are.

'What a misconception many people have of the Christian life! How little the average church member appears to know of the character of the conflict, and of its demands upon him! How ignorant he seems to be of the enemies he must encounter, if he engage
to serve God faithfully and so succeed in getting to heaven (((when the Savior returns))))and receive the crown of life! He seems scarcely to realize that the world, the flesh and the devil will oppose his onward march, and will defeat him utterly, unless he give himself to constant vigilance and unceasing prayer.

The Christian soldier wrestles not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Or, as the Scriptural margin reads, "wicked spirits in high places." What a fearful array of forces are set against him who would make his way through the wilderness of this world to the portals of the Celestial City! It is no surprise, therefore, to find Paul, who understood the character of the Christian life so well, and who was so thoroughly informed as to the malignity and number of the foes, which the disciple of the Lord must encounter, carefully and plainly urging him to "put on the whole armour of God," and "to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

Wise, with a great wisdom, would the present generation be if all professors of our faith
could be induced to realize this all-important and vital truth, which is so absolutely indispensable to a successful Christian life.'

Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER  By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 64)

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Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

You can be dressed in all the armor of God and fail to pray, then what? If a soldier in a physical battle is all geared up and yet has no communication with his commanding officer, then what? He's all dressed up but he is clueless. He doesn't even know who the enemy is unless his commander tells him who it is. He can guess at it, but in truth a soldier takes orders. A soldier has a leader. And it does a soldier NO good have a leader and not talk with him. Say if you like that God doesn't speak with us, but He does! We have His Word! When we pray HE LISTENS, HE HEARS. And speaks to us to and we KNOW HIS will He's told us HIS will!

We are in a REAL battle, but maybe because we don't have physical armor to put on for this battle, or a foe we can see all the time- I say all the time because often we struggle internally with our own thoughts, our own reasoning. We don't see the evil angel whispering in our ears, we don't hear him, but the influence of those evil angels are all around us. God can protect us, God will protect us but only if we CHOOSE HIM, only if we become His soldiers.  And it is through PRAYER we place ourselves with God, it is through prayer we keep the evil at bay. We are told to PRAY always with ALL PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the SPIRIT.  

Prayer is so incredibly important, and the realization of its importance is truly lost on so many, please LORD help it not be lost on me, lost on us, please!  Help us to learn to pray as we ought- praying always!

All by YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE, ALWAYS.