LIFE CHANGING PRAYER compiled by Debra Maffett

of prayer on our lips! (Matthew 25.11, 12.) It is the Savior's free grace,
infinite mercy, everlasting love — his full, perfect, and sufficient
atoning sacrifice — his pure, spotless, perfect, and glorious
righteousness — which form the proper basis of the Christian's trust
and confidence. He must not therefore trust in his prayers — but in
his Savior. And doubtless the enemy of his soul will tremble to see
him go, and leave his closet — trusting and glorying alone in Jesus.
Thrice happy is he, whose secret prayers lead him, as the star led the
eastern Magi, to the feet of the Savior! — and who, like them, when
there, is disposed willingly to offer the choicest and best things he
has, not indeed "gold and frankincense and myrrh," but himself, his
soul and body — to be a reasonable, holy, living sacrifice unto God.
The Christian, in all his prayers, should look well to his heart. The
eye of God is then, in an especial manner, upon it. He does not look
at the eloquence, the length, the number of the prayers — but at the
sincerity of the heart. He approves, accepts, and rewards no prayer
— but that in which the heart is engaged. It is not . . .
the lifting up of the voice,
the wringing of the hands,
or the smiting on the breast —
that he regards, but the motions of the heart. He hears with
approbation, no more than the heart speaks in sincerity.
Every prayer should be offered in the name of Jesus. Through him
alone, we have access with boldness to the throne of grace. He is our
advocate with the Father. When the believer appears before God in
secret, the Savior appears also — for "He ever lives to make intercession
for us." He has not only directed us to call upon his Father as "Our
Father," and to ask him to supply our daily needs, and to forgive us
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