Thoughts for Life: WHY WE NEED TO PRAY

John Calvin- I want to present for your consideration and meditation six reasons why the believer can ill-afford to treat with contempt such a glorious privilege as prayer. We must call upon God in prayer: (Praying hands)

that our hearts may be fired with a zealous and burning desire ever to seek, love, and serve him, while we become accustomed in every need to flee to him as to a sacred anchor.
that there may enter our hearts no desire and no wish at all of which we should be ashamed to make him a witness, while we learn to set all our wishes before his eyes, and even to pour out our whole hearts.
that we be prepared to receive his benefits with true gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, benefits that our prayer reminds us come from his hand (cf. Ps. 145:15-16).
moreover, that, having obtained what we were seeking, and being convinced that he has answered our prayers, we should be led to meditate upon his kindness more ardently.
that at the same time we embrace with greater delight those things which we asknowledge to have been obtained by prayers.
finally, that use and experience may, according to the measure of our feebleness, confirm his providence, while we understand not only that he promises never to fail us, and of his own will opens the way to call upon him at the very point of necessity, but also that he ever extends his hand to help his own, not wet-nursing them with words but defending them with present help.

Is it any wonder, then, that a prayerless person is so frequently defeated and depressed? How can we serve the Lord as we should and love Him as He desires if we never experience that absolute dependence upon Him that prayer demands?

How shall we ever rid our hearts of impure thoughts and desires if we never prepare ourselves to commune with God and to speak with Him openly of our deepest needs, fears, and yearnings?

How shall we be properly grateful to God for all that we are and have if we do not pray? How shall we ever come to know and appreciate God's kindness, and experience the blessings that derive from such knowledge, if we do not pray?

For is it not God's kindness that accounts for all answers to prayer? And does anyone really think it is possible, apart from prayer, to fathom the depths of God's providential mercy in caring for us in our direst need and most difficult times?

Is it not by experiencing first hand the compassionate and all-sustaining power of God through prayer that our faith in Him is bolstered and confirmed? (pp. 264,265 of C. Samuel Storms' book Reaching God's Ear.)

Let's pray-

Father, we will consider these following reasons why the believer can ill-affort to treat with contempt such a glorious privilege as prayer. It's proven, that we must/can call upon God in prayer.

Our hearts need to be fired up with a zealous and burning desire to seek His love and to serve Him. We're to become accustomed to flee to Him as our Sacred Anchor.

Our hearts are to be protected from any evil desire that would grieve the Holy Spirit. We're to set all our wishes before His eyes, even to pour out our whole hearts.

We can receive God's benefits with true gratitude of heart and thanksgiving; benefits that remind us eveything comes from His hand.

Having obtained what we were seeking for, and being convinced that He has answered our prayers, we are led to meditate upon His kindness.

We'll embrace with grateful delight those things which we acknowledge to have been obtained by prayers.

Our use and experience may, according to the measure of our feebleness, confirm His providence. While we understand not only that He promises never to fail us, and of His own will He opens the way to call upon Him at the very point of necessity, but also that He gives the knowledge that He ever extends His hand to help His own, not wet-nursing them with words but defending them with present help.

#86 Quote- Dutch Sheets

"When Jesus said the words “It is finished,” He was not referring to His death, nor did he whisper those three words with barely a breath left. The Bible says, “He drew a deep breath and shouted with a loud voice, ‘It is finished!’” (John 19:30).

This declaration carries a significance that transforms our understanding. The word actually spoken by Jesus was “Tetelestai!” This word in Hebrew and Greek signifies the complete fulfillment of His purpose and the execution of prophecy. In Jesus’ day, this word was stamped on invoices stating, “Paid in Full.” In essence, Jesus declared, “I’ve accomplished my goal, I finished the task, and the debt is now paid in full.”

Dutch Sheets "The Shout of Victory"

1466-1470 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1466- Hosea 6:3b "He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain

unto the earth."

1467- Acts 10:38b "God was with him."

1468- Dan. 4:34b "I blessed the most High."

1469- Ps. 148:13 "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name is excellent;

his glory is above the earth and heaven."

1470- Is. 9:8a "The Lord sent a word."

#86 Hymn- There is a Fountain

"There is a fountain filled with blood," is a hymn written by William Cowper. It was one of the first hymns he wrote after his first major bout of depression.

Based on Zechariah 13:1, “On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity."

Some encouraging words-

"We claim victory over our battles and overcome our strongholds in the name of Jesus. Evil must flee, demons tremble and hell loses souls." Karen Friday

Church notes

-Beware to not wander, but to keep standing in faith that Jesus is changing us

into His image, which is the image of the Father.

-We have freedom to choose to obey or not.

-Our eternal destiny is in Jesus.

-Jesus fulfilled the law, breaking the power of sin!

-He did all the work. We're to rest in Him, to obey and believe.

-We're each given gifts to serve Him in our churches.

-The holy fear of God is what we're to walk in.

Upcoming posts:

5/24- BE PREPARED- Kevin Spencer

31st- CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOOR- Karen Huffaker