Magnificent Prayer #17
Magnificent Prayer #17
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
How shall we deal with this matter of concentration in prayer? In the past, has your mind in any way become passive, and under the hold of the enemy? So much has been generally accepted as “natural” that could be traced back to some supernatural experience which has since been forgotten, but which left its mark on the mind.
Everything that comes from the Spirit of God invigorates every part of the being, and does not injure nor dull it; yet there are supernatural experiences which leave those who pass through them with no concentration of mind.
The reason is that there has been a complete “letting go” of the mind, instead of recognizing that God quickens and energizes it. If you see that this has happened, you can deal with it this moment, without going into the past, if you say, “If I ever in any way gave ground to evil spirits by passivity of mind, I now take back that ground, and claim the liberation of my mental faculties because of the victory of Christ at Calvary.” But if you insist upon accepting that lack of concentration as purely “natural,” you will not get deliverance from it.
JESSIE PENN-LEWIS
Pray About It: Many Christians mistakenly think that prayer is entirely passive. Their thinking is akin to that of New Age devotees who numbly sit cross-legged, their minds open to any spiritual influence that calls itself God.
But our God does not wish us to be passive in prayer. Silent sometimes—yes. Waiting sometimes—yes. Listening sometimes—yes. But even such quiet activities are in essence spiritually active, rather than passive.
We are instructed to come boldly to our loving Father, as a child who presents his earnest need to an attentive father.
As you pray today, be active—not passive.
Prayer is made vigorous by asking, urgent by supplication, and pleasing and acceptable by thanksgiving.
MARTIN LUTHER
From the book
