4 replies to this topic

[Travis Richey]

I'd like to take a little time to share with all of you the journey I am going through, and have been for a few weeks now. I request your prayers as I work through all of this, and ask that you pray that God would fill me to the measure of all of His Fullness, and with the power of His Holy Spirit in my inner being, that Christ may dwell in me.

I felt led to begin a study of prayer...of what it is, and what it isn't, and to look at the examples we are given of prayers, the people who prayed them, and the circumstances surrounding those prayers. This has been a very interesting and insightful study, and one that has impacted me in ways I could never had imagined as I began it. I've often been told that as we near those times of spiritual enlightenment, that Satan will redouble his efforts to prevent it, and this I now fully believe. I feel myself in intimate knowledge of Romans chapter 7 right now...with a battle raging inside of me. But Praise be to God through His Son Jesus Christ, the end is here.

This study brought me to the place where I was studying the scriptures of praying in the Name of Jesus and praying according to God's Will. In working through these words, and in asking, seeking and knocking to discern their meaning, I found myself knowing that it involved surrender. To pray in the Name of Jesus is to pray in Him...in all that He is, in all that His Name represents. To pray in God's Will cannot be to pray in my own. For either one, and for both to take place...I have to submit fully to the Trinity and to have no place for my self....to be fully and completely surrendered, in Unity with God through Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

This study about prayer, now takes a turn to the subject of surrender. As I stood before a bookcase, pondering and praying for direction, my eyes fell upon a small devotional book that had been given me by my Pastor several months ago. As I picked it up and began to read, the Holy Spirit testified to my spirit that this was important. So I googled the author, just to see who he was.....see? here I was seeking God and trying to learn how to surrender to Him, and where do I turn?...google of all places. But God can and does work thru google, because my eye immediately fell on the title of a book by this author, "Absolute Surrender". This is an older book, available at the CCEL website, so there I went, and after scanning across a few pages, I printed it out and have begun to read it in depth. I can't remember when any book, other than the Bible, has spoken so clearly and convictingly to me about my own pitiful condition, and about my need for the Omnipotence of God in my life. Praise the Lord for the work He is doing in me right now.

This journey is not over, but I wanted to take the time to share with my wonderful friends here all that God is doing, and to share this little book with you as well. Absolute Surrender by Author Murray. http://www.ccel.org/...urray/surrender

In Christ,
Travis

[Charles Miles]

Travis, I am joyful that your search has led to deeper knowledge of prayer and the need for it in our lives every day. We do always want to pray in God`s will and remain in it on our daily walk, but often we become confused as to just what His will covers and what is the "right thing" to pray. I, like you, find that the old saints(Tozer, Kenyon, Swindol, Finney, and Spurgeon) all had a walk with the Lord that was so deep and meaningful that I often am brought to tears and feelings of inadequacy on my part in my personal walk. These are the kind of men that would wear dents in the floor of their prayer closet earnestly seeking God`s will for their life. We wonder why we don`t see more gifts of the Spirit manifested in our churches today, but how many of us keep an open, prayerful, individual relationship with God to the extent they did? Our churches today tend to major on the minor in many areas and substitute denominational "structure" for the presence of the Holy Spirit. May God bless you as you earnestly seek His face and His will in your life. That kind of time and effort are well spent.
Yours in Christ,

Charlie

[478cc]

Hi Travis,

I hope you're doing well, and thanks for your post (a great one). This is a subject I wrestle with daily (hourly?), as a fairly new Christian. :-)

Murray's book is awesome. Came across two other books last year that were helpful to me as well, in case you might find them beneficial.

An Autobiography of Prayer - Albert E. Day (classic old one, c-1952, found via Alibris or Bookfinder, I forget which)
Disciplines for the Inner Life - Bob Benson Sr/Michael W Benson. (c 1989) (Trade Paperback can be found for $15 or less on Alibris; hardcopy was $$$$)

A local C&MA pastor was using Bensons' book for a prayer study (great sections on prayer for Adoration, Confession, Petition, Intercession and Meditation) and
Benson referenced Day's book in his credits. Don't know a lot about either author but both seemed very respectful of Scripture, Soverignty, Orthodoxy, and yet inclusive of
our personal journey and inward disciplines for growth. Benson's book covers a wide range of topics (52) in five sections. Hope this might help.

God Bless and Beset Wishes,
Pete F.

[Living water]

haaha I'm going to wear a dent in the floor. Thanks y'all I had a hard day some bitter disappointment but God IS STILL GREATER HALLLLLEEELLLLUUUJJJAAAHH!!!!

[Kevin Blankenship]

This is a great thread! I forgot that book by Andrew Murray! I read it and was really challenged to seek a deeper and more surrendered life. That has been a real struggle of mine! I read scriptures like, "if any man does not give up all that he has, he cannot be my disciple" and I never fail to get a big lump in my throat. I have come to believe that the lump is a physical manifestation of conviction. LOL Scriptures like that, and books like Absolute Surrender really tug at who we presently are, and what is presently most important in our lives. I have to to it daily. Or it seems that I quickly lose my perspective. It's as if I have a natural inclination to drift away from God, much like gravity pulls things downward unless we be mindful of the object and hold onto it. Then, gravity won't pull it to the ground and it break or go rolling under the couch. Maybe, gravity, in that sense, can be compared to our carnal nature. I don't know. I'm still too young in the Faith to be trying to come up with analogies. But it's a great thread, with some great responses. Good night, all. It's bedtime down here in Tennessee.