Prayer - Bunyan - I - Chapter 1

Required reading
Prayer by John Bunyan (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter I (What true prayer is) of Part I (Praying the Spirit).

My summary
In Chapter 1 Bunyan gives us a definition of prayer that he then unpacks under six points.  Prayer is:
(i) a sincere;
(ii) a sensible;
(iii) an affectionate, pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ;
(iv) by the strength or assistance of the Spirit;
(v) for such things as God has promised, or, according to his Word;
(6) for the good of the church;
(7) with submission in faith to the will of God.

What grabbed me
I liked how Bunyan encouraged affection in prayer: ' Alas! the greatest part of men make no conscience at all of this duty; and as for them that do, it is to be feared that many of them are very great strangers to a sincere, sensible, and affectionate pouring out of their hearts or souls to God : but even content themselves with a little lip-labor and bodily exercise, mumbling over a few imaginary prayers. When the affections are indeed engaged in prayer, then the whole man is engaged, and that in such sort, that the soul will spend itself to nothing, as it were, rather than it will go without that good desired, even communion and solace with Christ. And hence it is that the saints have spent their strength, and lost their lives, rather than go without the blessing. Psalm Ixix. 3; xxxviii. 9,10; Gen. xxxii. 24—26. All this is too evident by the ignorance, profaneness, and spirit of envy, that reign in the hearts of those men that are so hot for the forms, and not for the power, of praying.'

If we truly believe we are speaking to one we love very much, we cannot do so without affection.

Next week's reading
Reading Chapters 2 (What it is to pray with the spirit) & 3 (What it is to pray with the spirit and with the understanding).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.