Gleanings On Prayer
W. Clyde Martin
Having worshipped in God's house with God's children on this first Lord's day of 2009, I sit now at my desk to reflect the past and seek God's wishes for me in the days ahead. Paul's words ring so clear in my heart and mind "....forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before....I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." ( Phil. 3)
The things that I now share with you are mere gleanings from past writings once before delivered to you. I am now in my 67th year of preaching. From the very moment of my conversion I knew God's call to preach was before me and I have never felt any desire to give up such a glorious call that came so clearly. "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." John Wesley said, "I am a creature of a day...passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf; till a few moments hence I am no more seen." Meanwhile I preach!
A NEW BEGINNING
For each new beginning there must first be an ending. The year 2008 has ended but how much of the old year can be forgotten? Can we say that this new year gives us a fresh start? Can we forget and forgive? Jesus taught us to pray, "forgive us our sin as we forgive those who have sinned against us." Something has gone wrong with our understanding of forgiveness. I struggle to understand fully what my duty as a Christian is in the matter of forgiveness. Sincerely, I wish to move closer to God and His Word in this new year. I must pray correctly. I must forgive others as God forgives me.
Someone has said, "I'm sorry, let's get on with business. It's your job to forgive me. It's time for us both to put this behind us." With these few well chosen words, the tables are turned. I feel victimized, as I remind myself that according to Jesus, if I don't forgive others, our Father in heaven won't forgive me. ( Matthew 6:14-15) Can I be forgiving in spirit and at the same time help those who have been offensive, to be accountable for their actions? I believe I can. A truth to understand is; Forgiveness doesn't require a return to business as usual. Many times there are results that are irreversible.
The message is very clear to me, because a bitter spirit can be self-destructive to my prayer life, I must remove all unforgiveness from my heart in order to have a clear line to God's throne in prayer. The immeasurable forgiveness from God must flow through me to others. I must forgive those who sin against me. I can do this only by the grace of God. As a forgiven, born again child of God, we must begin this new year with a clear and pure heart!
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Taped to the top of my altar where I kneel each morning is a group of questions printed in very large letters. I call this list MY SPIRITUAL CHECK LIST: Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Anyone you haven't forgiven? Anyone your hate? Anyone you do not love? Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or jealousy? Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well-spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another? Leaning heavily upon I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins; and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I go through my check list until my heart is clear and cleansed. FORGIVEN! How sweet it is.
A NEW YEAR WITH AN OLD ENEMY
What can you expect in the new year? Expect attack! A sincere praying Christian should understand that we do not pray without opposition. A. W. Tozer once said, "A Church is a living organism and is subject to attact from such enemies as prey on living things." Perhaps all of us shall journey on some new paths in this new year but we must be alert and remember our enemy, Satan. His tactics are the same. His purpose is as it has always been. His number one effort is the same and that is to destroy our prayer life. Fleshly efforts to fight off the evil opposition is fruitless. We must be spiritually awake and fight as God's Word instructs us . . . fully clothed in God's armor; we must use "the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith" and resist the plague of prayerlessness.
RENEW YOUR MIND
New Year resolutions are to be encouraged but our greatest need is to take charge of our mind. Do not conform to the thinking of this world. (Romans 12:2) While meditation on God is edifying and a necessary companion to prayer, fleshly imagining and dreams lead us away from God's plan for life. Make prayer your thought processor
SET A 2009 GOAL - MAKE A VOW
Set this goal for your new year prayer life. Pray in complete harmony with God's will. V ow to God that you will never allow another prayerless hour in your life. "The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, the goal of prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God." __ Oswald Chambers.
CONTROLLED FROM HEAVEN
I remember the time I learned a most vital thing about prayer. While Pastor of a very large congregation some years ago, I was struggling to maintain a decent prayer life. I was in control of my petitions. My prayers were so greatly influenced by the daily conditions of my pressured life that I was confused as to which matters I should take to God. I made the decisions as to what things I should pray. As a result of such confusion, my prayer life was in shambles. My mind, my heart and my affections were so set on earth . . . I was not getting results. I learned something about prayer! I learned to "set my mind on things above, not on things on earth." ( Col.3:1-2 ) The requirement is that we not think in terms of this world system, but that out thoughts be controlled from Heaven.
PRAYER THAT MOVES GOD'S MIGHTY HAND
It is the continuous, persevering, Christ honoring daily praying that moves the mighty hand of God to pour upon His people the blessings of His grace in such rich abundance . . . and if ever you should ask the secret of God's current prosperity upon your life, the answer is your prayer life.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
We must pray or else things do not happen. I am constantly amazed over the fact that God only works in answer to prayer. The desire of our heart must be put to prayer. The petitions we offer unto God by the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ receive immediate attention . . . the fact that almighty God is quick to act when we pray also leaves me amazed.
(W. Clyde Martin is editor of THE PRAYER LIFE monthly online magazine. The duplication of all article is encouraged. To respond to this article please email wclydemartin@webtv.net)
The things that I now share with you are mere gleanings from past writings once before delivered to you. I am now in my 67th year of preaching. From the very moment of my conversion I knew God's call to preach was before me and I have never felt any desire to give up such a glorious call that came so clearly. "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." John Wesley said, "I am a creature of a day...passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf; till a few moments hence I am no more seen." Meanwhile I preach!
A NEW BEGINNING
For each new beginning there must first be an ending. The year 2008 has ended but how much of the old year can be forgotten? Can we say that this new year gives us a fresh start? Can we forget and forgive? Jesus taught us to pray, "forgive us our sin as we forgive those who have sinned against us." Something has gone wrong with our understanding of forgiveness. I struggle to understand fully what my duty as a Christian is in the matter of forgiveness. Sincerely, I wish to move closer to God and His Word in this new year. I must pray correctly. I must forgive others as God forgives me.
Someone has said, "I'm sorry, let's get on with business. It's your job to forgive me. It's time for us both to put this behind us." With these few well chosen words, the tables are turned. I feel victimized, as I remind myself that according to Jesus, if I don't forgive others, our Father in heaven won't forgive me. ( Matthew 6:14-15) Can I be forgiving in spirit and at the same time help those who have been offensive, to be accountable for their actions? I believe I can. A truth to understand is; Forgiveness doesn't require a return to business as usual. Many times there are results that are irreversible.
The message is very clear to me, because a bitter spirit can be self-destructive to my prayer life, I must remove all unforgiveness from my heart in order to have a clear line to God's throne in prayer. The immeasurable forgiveness from God must flow through me to others. I must forgive those who sin against me. I can do this only by the grace of God. As a forgiven, born again child of God, we must begin this new year with a clear and pure heart!
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Taped to the top of my altar where I kneel each morning is a group of questions printed in very large letters. I call this list MY SPIRITUAL CHECK LIST: Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Anyone you haven't forgiven? Anyone your hate? Anyone you do not love? Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or jealousy? Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well-spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another? Leaning heavily upon I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins; and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I go through my check list until my heart is clear and cleansed. FORGIVEN! How sweet it is.
A NEW YEAR WITH AN OLD ENEMY
What can you expect in the new year? Expect attack! A sincere praying Christian should understand that we do not pray without opposition. A. W. Tozer once said, "A Church is a living organism and is subject to attact from such enemies as prey on living things." Perhaps all of us shall journey on some new paths in this new year but we must be alert and remember our enemy, Satan. His tactics are the same. His purpose is as it has always been. His number one effort is the same and that is to destroy our prayer life. Fleshly efforts to fight off the evil opposition is fruitless. We must be spiritually awake and fight as God's Word instructs us . . . fully clothed in God's armor; we must use "the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith" and resist the plague of prayerlessness.
RENEW YOUR MIND
New Year resolutions are to be encouraged but our greatest need is to take charge of our mind. Do not conform to the thinking of this world. (Romans 12:2) While meditation on God is edifying and a necessary companion to prayer, fleshly imagining and dreams lead us away from God's plan for life. Make prayer your thought processor
SET A 2009 GOAL - MAKE A VOW
Set this goal for your new year prayer life. Pray in complete harmony with God's will. V ow to God that you will never allow another prayerless hour in your life. "The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, the goal of prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God." __ Oswald Chambers.
CONTROLLED FROM HEAVEN
I remember the time I learned a most vital thing about prayer. While Pastor of a very large congregation some years ago, I was struggling to maintain a decent prayer life. I was in control of my petitions. My prayers were so greatly influenced by the daily conditions of my pressured life that I was confused as to which matters I should take to God. I made the decisions as to what things I should pray. As a result of such confusion, my prayer life was in shambles. My mind, my heart and my affections were so set on earth . . . I was not getting results. I learned something about prayer! I learned to "set my mind on things above, not on things on earth." ( Col.3:1-2 ) The requirement is that we not think in terms of this world system, but that out thoughts be controlled from Heaven.
PRAYER THAT MOVES GOD'S MIGHTY HAND
It is the continuous, persevering, Christ honoring daily praying that moves the mighty hand of God to pour upon His people the blessings of His grace in such rich abundance . . . and if ever you should ask the secret of God's current prosperity upon your life, the answer is your prayer life.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
We must pray or else things do not happen. I am constantly amazed over the fact that God only works in answer to prayer. The desire of our heart must be put to prayer. The petitions we offer unto God by the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ receive immediate attention . . . the fact that almighty God is quick to act when we pray also leaves me amazed.
(W. Clyde Martin is editor of THE PRAYER LIFE monthly online magazine. The duplication of all article is encouraged. To respond to this article please email wclydemartin@webtv.net)
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