E.M. Bounds - Necessity of Prayer - Chapter 8

From E.M. Bounds - Book 1 - The Necessity of Prayer - Chapters 8- Prayer and Character and Conduct

Below are the sentences that jumped off the page at me:

Prayer governs conduct, and conduct makes character. Condust is what we do; character is what we are. Conduct is the outward life. Character is the life unseen, hidden within, yet evidence by that which is seen. Conduct is external, seen from without; character is internal - operating within.

Prayer helps to establish character and fashion conduct, and both for their successful continuance depend on prayer.

The more we pray, the better we are, the purer and better our lives.

In Christ's teachings, it is not simply works of charity and deeds of mercy upon which he insists, but inward spiritual character.

The Christian religion deals with men who are devoid of spiritual character, and unholy in life, and aims so to change them, that they become holy in heart and righteous in life. It aims to change bad men into good men; it deals with inward badness, and works to change it into inward goodness. And it is just here where prayer enters and demonstrates its wonderful power and fruit. In fact, without prayer, no such supernatural change in moral character, can ever be effected.

Prayer and sinning cannot keep company with each other. One or the other must of necessity stop. Get men to pray, and they will quit sinning, because prayer creates a distate for sinning, and so works upon the heart, that evil-doing becomes repugnant, and the entire nature is lifted to a reverent contemplation of high and holy things.

Bad living means bad parying and, in the end, no praying at all.

Feebleness of living reflects its debility and languor in the praying hours. We simply cannot talk to God, strongly, intimately, and confidently unless we are living for him, faithfully, and truly.

The most effecting preaching, is not that which is heard from the pulpit, but that which is proclaimed quietly, humbly, and consistently; which exhibits its excellencies in the home, and in the community. Examples preaches a far more effective sermon than precept. The best preaching, even in the pulpit, is that which is fortified by godly living, in the preacher himself.

Praying, which does not result in right thinking and right living, is a farce.

Cold, formal praying may exist side by side, with bad conduct, but such praying, in the estimation of God, is no praying at all.

Praying must come out of a clensed heart and be presented and urged with the 'lifting up of holy hands'. It must be fortified by a life aiming, unceasingly, to obey God, to attain conformity to the divine law, and to come into submission to the divine will.

Prayer promotes righteous living, and is the one great aid to uprightness of heart and life. The fruit of real praying is right living.

The following spoke to me the most:

The most effecting preaching, is not that which is heard from the pulpit, but that which is proclaimed quietly, humbly, and consistently; which exhibits its excellencies in the home, and in the community. Examples preaches a far more effective sermon than precept. The best preaching, even in the pulpit, is that which is fortified by godly living, in the preacher himself.

I never thought of my father as a preacher, but, in a way he was just that. Dad never gave a sermon, but probably did more good by living a good, clean life. In my eulogy I said my father was a classic example of 'actions speak louder than words.'

That is exactly what I thought when reading this passage. This chapter about Prayer and Conduct and Character really spoke to me.

Posted by rebnora at January 13, 2008 5:57 AM | TrackBack