Pray with feeling

"When we go before God in prayer with a cold, dull heart, and in a lifeless and listless manner pray to him for eternal blessings . . . we should think of Christ's earnest prayers that he poured out to God, with tears and a bloody sweat. The consideration of it may well make us ashamed of our dull, lifeless prayers to God, [in which] we rather ask a denial than ask to be heard; for the language of such a manner of praying to God is that we do not look upon the benefit that we pray for as of any great importance, that we are indifferent whether God answers us or not. The example of Jacob in wrestling with God for the blessing should teach us earnestness in our prayers, but more especially the example of Jesus Christ, who wrestled with God in a bloody sweat. If we were sensible as Christ was of the great importance of those benefits that are of eternal consequence, our prayers to God for such benefits would be after another manner than now they are. Our souls also would with earnest labor and strife be engaged in this duty." - Jonathan Edwards, 18th century preacher and missionary

This message got me to thinking – do I pray with feeling? Or do I recite a “lifeless and listless” prayer just to get it over with?

Me thinks that, way too many times, I am guilty of the latter.

Now the question is, what to do about these unworthy prayers.

How can I think it’s OK to send lackadaisical prayers up to the One who sacrificed Himself for my sins? How can I offer prayers that are not vigorous and determined?

Just who do I think I am? A sinner, that’s who. A sinner saved by God’s grace. Praise Him.

That’s the key, I think – Praise Him!

Praise Him in prayer. Praise Him in my actions. Praise Him in my love for my fellow man. Praise Him in my servant demeanor. Praise Him as I fill this page with my love of His eternal mercy, grace and forgiveness.

I need to put my heart and soul into my prayers.

Bottom line – praise Him in everything I do, every day in every way about every little (and big) thing – Praise Him, as the psalmist recorded –

Psalm 150 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Amen and Amen!

Now the question is, what about you?