Not a bad day at work today. It's been busy enough, but not too much, which is nice considering how hot it's been the last few days.
Today, I finally started reading At The Throne of Grace by John MacArthur. I say "finally" because I've had a copy of the book for almost two years. Actually, I have two: one that I bought two years ago at a conference and one a friend gave me for by birthday last year.
I asked a friend to remind me each day to read from it. I realized that I needed the accountability of a brother (or sister) to do what I needed to do.
I got as far as finishing the foreword. This has already proved to be valuable and encouraging. In the foreword, John examines the Lord's Prayer and in particular, notes that our model for prayer is concerned with others over ourselves (Our Father, our bread, etc.)
It made me realize that my prayers have been very self-interested lately. I've been seeing a lot of old sin coming up in my heart and my thoughts. I realize that this is indeed an answer to prayer, namely, that God would give me a more humble heart. If I'm to cultivate true humility, I need to turn from those sins that would hinder such humility.
In any case, it's affected my prayer life. My prayers have been extremely self-oriented. I've been praying for a solution to my problems while I failed to realize that I had a wrong attitude. I should've been using prayer to glorify God and to lift up my brothers and sisters, and I wasn't.
Anyway, I've begun rethinking how I ought to be praying, to glorify The Lord and to lift up my brothers and sisters.
All because of a book I could've read long ago. I didn't do it then, but I can do it now, by the grace of God.
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