As I mentioned in a previous blog, our pastor distributed a copy of this book to the members of Islands Community Church here in Savannah. The idea is to meditate on one chapter a month during this year. This month's article is by E. M. Bounds. He was a Methodist minister who wrote several books on prayer. He served as a chaplain in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Here are some excerpts from chapter one.
"How vast are the possibilities of prayer! How wide is its reach! What great things are accomplished by this divinely appointed means of grace! It lays its hand on Almighty God and moves Him to do what He would not otherwise do if prayer was not offered. It brings things to pass which would never otherwise occur. The story of prayer is the story of great achievements."
"The only limits to prayer are the promises of God and His ability to fulfill those promises."
"The possibilities of prayer reach to all things. In "whatever you ask" (John 14:13) is embraced all that concerns us or the children of men and God. Where will we draw the lines which leave out or which will limit the word "Whatever"? If "Whatever" does not include all things, then add to it the word "anything." "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14).
E. M. Bounds wrote many books on prayer. It is said that he would pray for three hours each day before working on his writings. No wonder he could write so much about it.
As mentioned in previous blogs, God pronounced His multiplied blessings on prayer. The disciples never asked him how to preach or sing. They asked to be taught how to pray. As you can very well tell by what has been happening in the world, the church has lost its impact. There's a lot of preaching and a lot of singing going on. There should be more emphasis placed on prayer.
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