- It’s 12:15am
- I’m sitting at my parent’s kitchen table
- It’s 25 degrees outside
- It’s freezing in here!
It’s quiet here… very quiet. I decided to read a little EM Bounds before I went to bed. Bounds said this of the Methodist Church
The early Methodist had no heating apparatus in their churches. They declared that the flame in the pew and the fire in the pulpit must suffice to keep them warm.
Wow, currently most of the country is experiencing frigid temperatures!! If I were in one of those churches, I’d have to build a fire to keep warm. On the subject of “flames in the pew”, how are you? If may be 30 degrees outside, but what about inside?
Bounds also said this…
Coldness of spirit hinders praying; prayer cannot live in a wintry atmosphere.
Is your spirit cold? What made it that way?
- sin?
- discouragement?
- disappointment?
- fear?
- loneliness?
- laziness?
If a cold spirit hinders prayer, we have to do what it takes to warm our spirit to God.
How do you warm your spirit?? What do you do??
Please share…
8 Comments
December 23, 2008 at 3:10 AM
interesting points made by EM bounds. thankfully our churches have become more modern because my pew would lean on the frigid side. for some reason i allow myself to settle in complacency on sundays and i walk away from a service not having expected Gd to reveal himself to me. Good stuff man
December 23, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Thanks Ryan! So, what are some of the things you do to keep your spirit warm to God?
December 23, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Being on your knees is the best way to quickly heat up your Spirit! You humble yourself before Him and He will lift you/warm you up!
December 23, 2008 at 7:49 PM
i get cold when my curiosity depletes, when i get complacent and stop looking for God. i am closest to the Lord when i am so overwhelmed that i dig and discover that He is good. a hungry spirit fed by truth is sure to warm a cold heart.
December 23, 2008 at 9:30 PM
i honestly feel like connection allows my spirit to remain warm to God. i do that through my daily devotions and books that i read. the area that i have been expanding is my prayer life. the whole pray without ceasing concept is becoming more of a reality for me. i am learning to talk with God about everything. for some reason though i go into hibernation mode on sundays. do not get me wrong i do pay attention but so many times i feel like i have limited God and what he can truly do in each service. its weird cause i work on staff at church and am still learning how to go from the work week to worship service even though im in the same building. make sense?
December 24, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Thats good Rob! When we get too “routine” in our relationship with God… we stop searching for him and grow cold. Stay fresh, as God to mess up your schedule, suprise you, and keep you fresh. Good word Rob!
December 24, 2008 at 1:10 AM
Where do you work Ryan? So your focusing on your prayer life… you need to explore the works on prayer of E.M. Bounds, its like 8 mini books on prayer into one, small chapters FILLED with gold! go buy it from abebooks.com Lets get together after the new year Ryan.
December 24, 2008 at 3:38 AM
i work at westside baptist church. i will definitely check his work out. whenever you wanna get together should be good with me. im always down. appreciate it