Required readingThe Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Direction Eleventh by reading the First Part of Prayer (Petitionary) of Branch Second of Division Second of the Second General Part.
My summary
Today we continue on with Direction Eleventh on prayer from: 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Eph. 6:18)
We've been looking at kinds of prayer and now we look at the petitionary (requesting) part of prayer.
Gurnall gives advice on:
(i) precatory prayer (general Godly desires for some good thing in the name of Christ);
(ii) deprecatory (the removal of some evil);
(iii) imprecatory (vengeance of God upon the enemies of God);
What grabbed me
Some very good advice, particularly for imprecatory prayer.
But I particularly liked this counsel on how to pray against the power of thy lusts: 'When the soul doth thus face about from his sins to close with Christ, then he becomes a covenanter with God, and may, with faith, call God into the field for his help against this huge host of lusts and devils that come against him. God's chariots are his; the whole militia of heaven is engaged in his quarrel. 'Sin shall not have dominion over you'—and why?— 'for ye are not under law but under grace,' Rom. 6:14; that is, you are not under the law covenant made with Adam, but under the gospel covenant made with Christ, and through him with all believers. O how many prayers against sin are lost for want of well understanding this grand notion of the gospel! A great cry is made and complaint by many of their sins to God, and victory over them pretend to be desired; yet they live and grow stronger every day than other. And what is the reason? Alas! they stand not in a federal relation to God; neither take they any care how to get into it. Will a prince raise an army to fight for he knows not whom? Indeed, if his subjects or allies be in distress he is ready to step in for their succour; but strangers cannot expect he should do this for them. Leagues are made before assistance desired. God first promised to bring Israel 'into the bond of his covenant,' Eze. 20:37; and then, that he will 'accept them with your sweet savour,' ver. 41.'
The powers of the covenanting God lie at your disposal - call on them!
Next week's reading
Continue Direction Eleventh by reading the Second Part of Prayer (Gratulatory) of Branch Second of Division Second of the Second General Part.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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