Prayer Wisdom and Smiles

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”  Tennyson

It’s been a while since I shared any 1st Sunday Devotionals. I know. This isn’t the first Sunday in November. That’s okay. This isn’t exactly a devotional piece either. It’s some quotes and more gleaned from the ones I’ve gathered over the years and used in the bulletins I prepare for my little church each Sunday.

I feel like most, in not all, of you believe in the power of prayer and practice the privilege of prayer all the time. Some of the things I’ve shared here are serious and make us think. Other things might make you smile while still thinking. None of it is original with me, but I don’t have the source on some of the quotes. So, here goes.

Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble. It is a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout life.

I like how writers find so many ways to describe prayer and make us see the importance of conversations with the Lord.

Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly, others give but an occasional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might. ~C.H. Spurgeon

Max Lucado always shows us in everyday language how to step closer to the Lord.

WATCH AND PRAY   by Max Lucado

“Watch.”  They don’t come any more practical than that. Watch. Stay alert. Keep your eyes open. When you see trouble coming, duck. When you sense temptation ahead, go the other way.
 “Pray.”  Prayer isn’t telling God anything new. There is not a sinner nor a saint who would surprise him. What prayer does is invite God to walk the shadowy pathways of life with us. Prayer is asking God to watch ahead for falling trees, tumbling boulders and to bring up the rear, guarding our backside from the poison darts of the devil.

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. ~Max Lucado

Sometimes prayer advice can make us smile. The following two prayers make me smile for sure. At the same time, truth is in the words and a little humor can help us see the lesson in these words and remember that.

A Sunday Morning Prayer by an Old Deacon

One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on an older deacon to pray. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, “Lord, I hate buttermilk.” The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going.

The deacon continued, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, “Lord, I ain’t too crazy about plain old flour. But after you mix ’em all together and bake ’em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits.

So, Lord, help us to understand when life goes haywire, when things come up that leave a bad taste in our mouths, or whenever we can’t figure out what You’re doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After you get through mixing and baking, we might have some amazing ‘biscuits.’”

Amen

And then this morning prayer is one you can think about each and every day.

Morning Prayer (unknown source)

— So far today, Lord, I’ve done okay. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, selfish or mean. I’m really glad about that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on I’m going to need a lot of help. Amen.

Here at the end is a few words of truth.

THE POWER OF PRAYER ~Peter Kreeft

“I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and all the consequences of those prayers down through the centuries, we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.” 

And one last quote.

Prayer – the original wireless connection.

I hope you enjoyed reading through these quotes.

Did any of them give you pause to think?