Thursday, November 12, 2015

HOW MUCH DOES A PRAYER WEIGH?

If you want to share this blog with a friend go to the bottom of these comments and click on TELL A FRIEND

The sermons found on this blog are selected sermons preached by Rev. Wyrick during a ministry of over 50 years.  This syndicated columnist/minister thanks you for visiting.

GO TO NEIL’S OTHER BLOG ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS and read the following brain teasers.  CLICK ON URL BELOW


++++++++++++

Why do you pray?  As a spiritual catharsis?  To get it, whatever it is, off your chest?  To talk it out with God, but not see it through?  Or, yes…see it through?

Do you pray for your children and grandchildren that God might help them to be good and avoid the many temptations all around?  Did you pray with equal fervor that He might help you to set a better example? 

Not long ago, I read of a boy who had broken his parent’s hearts.  There were rules and regulations in the home but he felt they had no application to him.  So he broke them.

Therefore, his parents banished him to the attic after dinner every evening.  Here the roof would provide protection from the elements and the floor would provide a place to sleep.  It would not be home, but perhaps this would teach him a lesson.  The first night, however, his father lay restless in his comfort able bed and could not sleep.  So half-way through the night, he gathered up his blanket, climbed the attic steps and for that night and through succeeding nights, he slept beside his boy sharing his exile. 

This is God and prayer.  God sharing our exile when sometimes we are the ones who have decreed the exile.

The Psalmist writes “Whither shall I go from Thy spirit?  Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?  If I ascend up to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.”  (Psalm 139:8)

There is no time nor place you cannot pray.  If you exile yourself to bars, God is there.  If you wrap yourself in self-pity, God is there.  If you are singing songs at your wedding, God is there.  If you are weeping at the loss of a loved one, God is there.  Your pain is His pain, your joy His joy, your sin His burden to bear. 

Just remember that “Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness. “  --Phillips Brooks29

One of the most stupid things a man or woman can do to their immortal soul is to put that soul on a diet when it comes to God.  And that is what not praying is.

Jesus warns all of us about being lukewarm which I guess means that if we were to take our spiritual temperature we need to be able to record somewhat of a spiritual fever.

During the civil war President Abraham Lincoln said, “Again and again, I am driven to my knees.  There is no other place to go.”

Ultimately, that is what it is all about.  When it comes to our place in time there is nowhere quite like showing up at the foot of eternity.  Nothing like having a conversation with Him who in the beginning created heaven and earth, and you and me.

Prayer gets down to the basics.  St. Augustine didn’t beat around the bush in trying to explain.  He said “A person prays that he himself may be constructed, not that God may be instructed.”

True prayer is life’s most honest moment.  You may lie to people; put up a front, make excuses, practice double standards, but a true prayer takes you before the throne of Grace, and here you and your God take a good look at who you really are and who you could truly be.

In closing, consider the truth that true, life-changing prayer is a discipline.  Not an occasional.  Not something that you agree is good, but seldom practice. 

Rather, believe the following with James who wrote, and it can be found in the book of James, 4th chapter 8th verse;

 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” 

++++++++

CLICK ON  www.go60.us   IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on "Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click on Neil Wyrick 

Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has written for this web site are:  REFLECTIONS


·         Here Comes Summer (July 2012)

·         Spring (May 2012)

·         Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (April 2012)

·         Wayward and Windy (April 2012)


GO TO ONE A DAY YOUR SPIRUTAL VITAMINS...Neil's other blog...over 900 stories and comments...

click on the URL below

  ++++++++++++++++++++

GO TO AMAZON.COM TO BUY NEIL WYRICK'S THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN...still receiving RAVE REVIEWS 8 years after it's publication.

        "Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understaning and appreciation of Lincoln...(Lt. Colonel C.A.Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)

        "Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information.  (Maynard Pittendreigh, Presbyterian Minister)

        "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN is an extremely well written book...it is both scholarly and very readable.  I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of that President with an altered and enlarged vision of the man. (William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer, author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn.)                                             

GO TO SPEAKER.NEIL TO SEE NEIL'S ONE MAN AWARD WINNING DRAMATIZATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

  CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BELOW...ON... ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS BLOG....PAST POSTINGS

WHICH IS BETTER TO BE?  A WINDOW OR A DOOR” ” “BE A RAINBOW SEARCHER AND FINDER” “IS YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION?

Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER

TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)
 

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING


          V. Neil Wyrick’s ninth book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN and is available at MAGNUS PRESS

          AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM’S Kindle

No comments: