PRAYER -- CRYING UNTO JESUS
Texas resident and accomplished Bible Teacher and powerful Preacher, Michael Snyder shares with us his rendering of a wonderful and timely message of hope in the awesome power of prayer. Perhaps this will be as helpful to you and it has been for me. A fresh perspective into our prayer life:
“Behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him.” ( Matthew 15:22).
In this prayer the Syro-Phoenician woman cried with intense feeling. Would it not have been more modest for her to speak gently to this soul-redeeming Savior, who hears before we pray, than to cry or shout? Was Christ so hard to be entreated? The disciples afterward complained of her crying after them, but there were reasons for her loud praying that are applicable to us.
First, Need cannot blush. The pinching necessity of the saints is not bound by the law of modesty. Hunger cannot be ashamed. I mourn in my complaint, says David, and make a noise ( Psalm 55:2). Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter, says Hezekiah: I did mourn as a dove ( Isaiah 38:14).
Second, Fervor is a heavenly ingredient in prayer, even though God hears prayer only as offered in Christ and not because of its warmth. Therefore the prayers of the saints are called their crying: Out of the depths have I cried ( Psalm 130:1). Jesus, our pattern for prayer, offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears( Hebrews 5:7).
Third, There is a sort of violence offered to God in fervent prayer. I will not let thee go, said Jacob to his Lord (Genesis 32:26). When Moses was wrestling in prayer for the people, God answered, Now therefore let me alone ( Exodus 32:10). All these are good reasons for urgent prayer, but we must consider of the hindrance that keep poor sinners from this kind of praying.
We might say, I have not so much as a voice. Yes, but there are other voices besides those that are articulate. For example, there is a voice in tears: The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping (Psalm 6:8). A baby has no prayers for the breast, but the mother can interpret his weeping.
All my ways of expressing prayer are imperfect. In God’s book, a look toward heaven or an uplifting of the eyes is set down as prayer: In the mourning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up ( Psalm 5:3). What is prayer but a pouring out of the soul to God? Faith will find another outlet if one be stopped. Feeling breaks out in looks when voice is lacking, just as smoke pours out of the windows when the door is shut. Dying Stephen looked up to heaven by the window of the soul to give notice that a poor friend was on his way, and that was prayer enough. If I were ready to sink into hell, I should wish no more than to send one longing look to heaven. There are many love-looks of the saints lying in the bosom of Christ.
Original script: Samuel Rutherford. From: A Sermon Crying unto Jesus
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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