The Essentials of Prayer: Devotion, Humility, and Thanksgiving

Prayer takes in the whole person, affecting mind, soul, and body; it requires wholehearted devotion, humility, and results in praise and thanksgiving.

### The Power of Humble and Devout Prayer According to E. M. Bounds
* 📚 E. M. Bounds, an influential American author and pastor, wrote extensively on prayer, with "**The Essentials of Prayer**" being one of his works published posthumously.
* 👥 Reverend Claudius Lysias Chilton Jr. and Reverend Homer W. Hodge prepared Bounds' manuscripts for publication after his death, ensuring his **words remain relevant to this day**.
* 🙏 Prayer encompasses the entire person - **mind, soul, and body** - requiring **full consecration and wholehearted devotion to God**.
* 🙇 Humility is the foundation of effective prayer, with Jesus and the publican in the Pharisee-parable exemplifying the importance of **self-deprecation and lowliness of heart**.
* 🔥 Devotion, the spirit of reverence, awe, and godly fear, is closely linked to prayer, creating an atmosphere where **prayer thrives and reaches the throne of grace**.
* 🙌 The heavenly creatures described in Revelation 4:8 demonstrate **ceaseless and fervent devotion to God's holiness**, serving as perfect symbols of **true prayer and its ardor**.
* ❌ In the modern church, there is often a lack of **true devotion**, with religious activities sometimes becoming a substitute for **genuine worship**.
* 💪 True spiritual strength and activity come from **deep, unseen roots of devotion and internal growth**, as described in Isaiah 40:31.

### The Role of Prayer in Various Aspects of Life
* 🙏 Great activity often leads to neglecting prayer, which is the **highway to backsliding**.
* 🎵 Prayer, praise, and thanksgiving are closely related, with the Psalms often linking them **together**.
* 🌱 Gratitude is born of meditation on God's grace and mercy, and it leads to **love and larger consecrations to God**.
* 🙏 Prayer in the time of trouble is of great value, as it often **delivers from trouble**, gives **strength, comfort, and patience**.
* 🧠 All troubles ultimately come with God's consent, and prayer allows God to **work for the greatest good**.
* 🌟 The spirit of prayer and true praise go hand in hand, and **singing is a common form of praise**.
* 🔥 Paul taught that through much tribulation, believers must enter the kingdom of God, and the sufferings of this present time are **not worthy to be compared with the coming glory**.

### The Vital Connection Between Prayer, Suffering, Holiness, and Consecration
* 🙏 Prayer is the key to unlocking **consecration and holiness**, as it leads to, governs, and entirely permeates a **consecrated life**.
* 🔥 Suffering plays a crucial role in deepening one's religious experience, with both Paul and Peter teaching that **suffering leads to higher regions of Christian experience and the development of Christian character**.
* 🧘 Holiness is God's ultimate aim in dealing with His people, seeking to create in them the virtues that belong to **Jesus Christ** and make them **like Himself**.
* 🙏 "As prayer leads to and brings forth **full consecration**, so prayer entirely permeates a **consecrated life**."
* 🛐 Consecration is the voluntary, complete dedication of oneself to God, and the genuine act of consecration is **full, complete, and with nothing withheld**.
* 🔍 "The present-day church has vast machinery and activities, but the all-important question is whether the **work of holiness is advancing**."
* 💔 "Material prosperity may blind the eyes of church leaders, so that it is considered a **substitute for spiritual prosperity**."
* 🙌 "The spirit of consecration is the spirit of prayer, and the **law of consecration is the law of prayer**."

### The Importance of Prayer in Religion and Church Discipline
* 🙏 Having a scriptural and reasonable standard in religion is crucial for **shaping character and measuring results**.
* 🎯 Prayer helps to make the **standard of religion clear and definite**, aiming at the **highest religious experience**.
* ✝ The divine standard of full consecration to God is a **complete and entire, whole burnt offering**.
* 👥 The church must exercise discipline and maintain purity, and a church that is careless about discipline will be **careless in praying**.
* 🤝 The combined prayer forces of the church have **great benefit and energy**.
* 🕊 Christlike compassion, moved by pity and mercy, always leads to **prayer**.
* 🌾 The gathering in of the harvests of earth for the granaries of heaven is dependent on the **prayers of God's people**.
* 👀 Church leaders need to have **spiritual vision** to discern **disorderly conduct** in the church and take steps to **correct it**.

### The Universal Power and Influence of Prayer According to E.M. Bounds
* 🙏 "Prayer is no more harshness than the act of the skillful surgeon, who sees the whole body with parts endangered by a gangrenous limb and **severs the limb from the body for the good of the whole body**."
* 🌍 "Prayer is far-reaching in its influence and worldwide in its effects. It affects **all people, everywhere, and in all things**."
* 👥 "When we talk about prayer and its work, we must use **universal terms**. It is individual in its application and benefits, but it is **general and worldwide** at the same time in its good influences."
* 🙏 "All people ought to pray. Prayer is intended for all people, because all people need God and need what God has; they need that which **only prayer can secure**."
* 🌐 "Men and women may pray everywhere, since **God is accessible in every place and under all circumstances**."
* 🙏 "The key of all missionary success is prayer. That key is in the hands of the **home churches**."
* 🌐 "The missionary spirit is not simply a phase of the gospel, not a mere feature of the plan of salvation, but it is its **very spirit and life**."
* 📜 "The fortunes of the kingdom of Jesus Christ are not made by the feebleness of its foes. They are strong and bitter and have always been strong and always will be. But mighty prayer - **this is the one great spiritual force that will enable the Lord Jesus Christ to enter into full possession of his kingdom**."

The Essentials of Prayer | E M Bounds | Free Christian Audiobook

Aneko Press - Christian Audiobooks

Bounds, a 20th-century American author and pastor, wrote extensively on prayer, with "The Essentials of Prayer" being one of his posthumously published works.

The book has been edited and revised to update the language for today's readers while maintaining the original meaning.

It emphasizes the importance of praying with the whole person, involving the mind, soul, and body, and highlights the need for complete dedication and concentration in prayer.

The book also underscores the profound and far-reaching influence of prayer, stressing the requirement for wholehearted and intense commitment to the act of praying.

Wholehearted prayer is essential for loving God and seeking Him, as it engages the entire person in a deep and sincere connection with God.

Effective praying requires the engagement of all powers of the moral and spiritual nature, as seen in the examples of Jesus, the psalmist, and Paul.

Wholehearted prayer not only blesses the soul but also brings benefits to the body and mind, demonstrating its holistic impact.

Humility in prayer involves having a lowly and modest estimation of oneself, without any self-praise or self-exaltation.

It is characterized by a focus on God and others, as seen in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican.

Humility in prayer is essential for a deep and sincere connection with God, allowing individuals to seek obscurity and prioritize the needs of others over self-promotion.

Humility of heart is crucial for effective prayer, as it brings the praying soul closer to God and allows for genuine communication.

The contrast between the Pharisee and the publican in the Bible highlights the worthlessness of self-righteousness and the value of humility in prayer.

Humility is not only the absence of vanity and pride, but a positive force that energizes prayer, making it an indispensable requisite for true prayer.

Devotion in prayer is a state of reverence and godly fear, essential for true worship and inner life.

Devout individuals, wholly devoted to God, play a crucial role in carrying forward his plans through prayer.

The modern church is often lacking in true devotion, leading to empty religious performances and a loss of the spirit of prayer.

The spirit of devotion is not only essential for worship but also for infusing every aspect of life with a sacred and serious attitude towards God.

Prayer should be fervent and passionate, not just a busy activity, but a reflection of genuine devotion and strength.

The combination of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving is emphasized, with gratitude being the expression of inward thankfulness to God for his blessings.

Gratitude is born out of meditation on God's grace and mercy, leading to love and praise, while ingratitude is linked to murmuring and complaining.

The union of prayer and thanksgiving is highlighted as essential, promoting a life of rejoicing and perseverance in faith.

Prayer and gratitude are closely connected, with prayer bringing the answer and the answer bringing forth gratitude and praise.

The spirit of praise is essential in the church, but is often lacking in modern congregations, dissipating the essential features of worship.

Sacrificial and genuine singing is crucial for true worship, as the decay of singing signifies the decline of grace in the heart.

Prayer is emphasized as a way to make specific requests known to God, accompanied by thanksgiving, and is of great value in times of trouble, providing strength, comfort, and patience.

Trouble is a varied experience in people's lives, individually tailored by God.

It is allowed by God to fulfill his purposes and perfect his saints, serving as a part of his disciplinary government.

Prayer plays a crucial role in the time of trouble, recognizing God's hand in the situation, bringing comfort, hope, and blessings, and enabling the sufferer to better bear and submit to the trouble.

Prayer provides wisdom and comfort in times of trouble, as seen in the biblical stories of the children of Israel and the psalmist.

Troubles, whether self-made, human-induced, or of spiritual origin, are all suitable for prayer and can bring spiritual benefits.

Prayer in the time of trouble helps to conform the spirit to God's will, sanctifies trouble, and allows for the reception of the greatest good.

Ultimately, the relationship between prayer and trouble is crucial, as prayer has the power to bring help and deliverance in the midst of trouble.

God's promises in the book of Isaiah bring comfort and reassurance to the believers, reminding them that He is with them through all their tribulations.

Both Paul and Peter emphasize the close connection between suffering and the development of spiritual grace, highlighting the importance of enduring troubles with patience and prayer.

Trouble is seen as a means of God's discipline and a way to reveal one's need for Him, as it has the power to stop people in their tracks and lead them back to God.

Tribulations lead to a world without trouble, as described in the Bible, offering hope and comfort to those who are suffering.

The work of God in the world is to achieve holiness in the lives of people, aiming to make unholy individuals holy through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The progress of this work of holiness in the church is questioned, emphasizing the importance of genuine spiritual prosperity over material wealth.

The Decline of Holiness and the Power of Prayer

The neglect of holiness and prayer has led to a decline in the spiritual strength of the church and its leaders.

John Wesley emphasized the importance of holiness in pastors and its impact on the congregation, highlighting the crucial role of grace and prayer in the effectiveness of God's work.

The emphasis on holiness has been replaced by other priorities in the modern church, leading to a lack of spiritual power and effectiveness.

The Relationship Between Prayer and Consecration

Prayer is essential for true consecration, and the lack of prayer renders consecration superficial and ineffective.

Full consecration requires a wholehearted dedication to God without holding anything back.

Prayer is the key factor that leads to and results from full consecration, permeating every aspect of a consecrated life.

The Vital Connection Between Consecration and Prayer

God desires consecrated individuals because they are able to pray and are willing to do so, as prayer and consecration are intertwined.

The primary purpose of consecration is not just engaging in church activities, but rather to live a life of holiness and righteousness, which is closely linked to prayer.

Prayer is essential in maintaining a life of holiness, and consecration and prayer work in harmony to bring about a state of heart that is in perfect accord with God's will.

The Vital Role of Prayer in Religious Life

Prayer is essential for those seeking the deepest work of grace and holiness in their religious life, aiming for the highest standard set by the Word of God.

A life of prayer is crucial for a clear and definite understanding of religion, countering vague and indefinite views.

The standard of a religious life, as outlined in the Scriptures, is based on full consecration to God, with prayer being the natural outflow of this dedicated life.

The Importance of Compassion and Prayer in Religious Life

Religious growth requires a clear direction and purpose, not vague wandering.

Spiritual compassion leads to heartfelt prayer for others and is essential for a renewed heart.

Compassion, inspired by seeing the needs of others, moves people to pray and seek to relieve both physical and spiritual suffering.

Jesus' compassion for the weary and lost moved him to instruct his disciples to pray for laborers for the harvest.

The church's failure to pray for laborers is linked to the scarcity of workers for the harvest, which is essential for the gathering of souls.

The combination of prayer forces and the agreement in prayer is emphasized by Jesus as a powerful and efficacious way to gain results.

Prayer plays a crucial role in the church's discipline process, helping to enforce purity and unity.

The neglect of church discipline is a sign of prayerlessness, and it is essential for the church to both restore wrongdoers and, if necessary, exclude them from the fellowship.

Praying leaders who are grieved by disorder in the church have the responsibility to correct these evils and guide the church back to scriptural standards.

Prayer is essential for all people as it secures God's saving grace and mercy, making it a universal command and privilege.

The universality of prayer is seen in its far-reaching influence, affecting all aspects of life and reaching people everywhere.

Despite some exceptions, people are encouraged to pray in every place, as God is accessible under all circumstances and prayer has the power to impact everything.

The Universal Power and Significance of Prayer

Prayer is meant to be a part of every aspect of life, including praying for all people and all things that concern us.

The act of praying is not limited to specific places or types of individuals, but it has a universal application for the benefit of all.

The connection between prayer and missions is strong, as prayer plays a crucial role in the success of missionary efforts and the spread of the gospel to all of mankind.

The Central Role of Prayer in the Missionary Movement

The missionary spirit is considered the essence of the gospel and is crucial for the church's vitality.

Prayer, more than financial resources, is emphasized as the key to missionary success, with a strong emphasis on the role of the home church in praying for missions.

The danger of the missionary movement outpacing the missionary spirit is highlighted, with a call to prioritize prayer over fundraising efforts.

Paul and Barnabas were specifically called to the foreign field after special prayer in the church at Antioch.

Missionary work, driven by prayer, is essential for the spread of Christianity to heathen lands.

God's plan for missionary work is based on prayer, with laborers being sent in answer to the prayers of the church.