It is a common experience to find souls kneeling at the altar and calling upon God with apparent great anguish of heart, who fail to receive anything. And it is just as common for groups of people to gather together for nights of prayer for a Revival and yet never have their prayers answered. What is the trouble? Let the Word of God answer: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” Hence, let us uncover our sin first of all; let us make straight the crooked ways, let us gather out the stones, and then we may ask in faith and expectancy for showers of blessing.

Now let us take our sins one by one and deal with each transgression separately. And let us ask ourselves the following questions. It may be we are guilty and God will speak to us.

(1) Have we forgiven everyone? Is there any malice, spite, hatred or enmity in our hearts? Do we cherish grudges; and have we refused to be reconciled?

(2) Do we get angry? Are there any uprisings within? Is it true that we still lose our tempers? Does wrath hold us at times in its grip?

(3) Is there any feeling of jealousy? When another is preferred before us does it make us envious and uncomfortable? Do we get jealous of those who can pray, speak and do things better than we can?

(4) Do we get impatient and irritated? Do little things vex and annoy, or, are we sweet, calm and unruffled under all circumstances?

(5) Are we offended easily? When people fail to notice us and pass by without speaking does it hurt? If others are made much of and we are neglected how do we feel about it?

(6) Is there any pride in our hearts? Are we puffed up, do we think a great deal of our own position and attainments?

(7) Have we been dishonest? Is our business open and above reproach? Do we give a yard for a yard and a pound for a pound? Are we honest in our statements. or do we exaggerate and thus convey false impressions?

(8) Have we been gossiping about people? Do we slander the character of others? Are we talebearers and busybodies?

(9) Do we criticize unlovingly, harshly, severely? Are we always finding fault and looking for the flaws in others?

(10) Do we rob God? Have we stolen time that belongs to Him? Has our money been withheld?

(11) Are we guilty of the sin of unbelief? In spite of all He has done for us do we still refuse to believe the promises of His Word?

(12) Have we committed the sin of prayerlessness? Are we intercessors? Do we pray? How much time are we spending on our knees? Have we crowded prayer out of our lives?

(13) Are we neglecting God’s Word? How many chapters do we read each day? Are we Bible students? Do we draw our source of supply from the Scriptures?

(14) Are we burdened for the salvation of souls ? Have we a love for the lost ? Is there any compassion in our hearts for those who are perishing ?

(15) Have we failed to confess Christ openly? Are we ashamed of Jesus? Do we keep our mouths closed when we are surrounded by worldly people? Are we witnessing daily?

(16) Are our lives filled with lightness and frivolity? Is our conduct unseemly? Would the world by our actions consider us on its side?

(17) Have we wronged any one and failed to make restitution? Or, has the spirit of Zacchaeus possessed us? Have we restored the many little things that God has shown us?

(18) Are we worried or anxious? Do we fail to trust God for our temporal and spiritual needs? Are we continually crossing bridges before we come to them?

(19) Are we guilty of lustful thoughts? Do we allow our minds to harbor impure and unholy imaginations?

Prayer can do what political action cannot, what education cannot, what military might cannot, and what planning committees cannot. All these are impotent by comparison.

By prayer the kingdom of God is built, and by prayer the kingdom of Satan is destroyed. Where there is no prayer, there are no great works, and there is no building of the kingdom. Where there is much prayer and fervent prayer, there are great gains for the kingdom: God’s rule is established, His power is directed, His will is done, society is transformed, lost persons are saved, and saints are enabled to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Eph. 6:11). If that isn’t enough to compel us to “devote [ourselves] to prayer” and “always [wrestle] in prayer” ( Col. 4:2,12), I don’t know what is!

- Alvin J. Vander Griend

Luke 23:34

Observation

While being crucified, Jesus does not retaliate against His persecutors. He certainly could have called legions of angels to His defense. Instead he practices what He taught His disciples to do – He prayed for His enemies. He demonstrated His dependence on The Father in that He did not exercise His own authority to forgive but asked the Father to forgive them.

Application

Since Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him, there is no circumstance which justifies me withholding forgiveness. Since Jesus was dependent on the Father, I must depend on Him as well.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for the example of Jesus’ sinless life. I ask you to remind me, when I am hurt or mistreated, of Jesus’ desire for even those who crucified Him to be forgiven. Forgive me for trying to live in my own strength. Help me to depend on you in all that I do. I am so glad that You are always faithful!

This made me think, when does worship end? The singing of worship songs at church may end at a certain point, but often worship ends before the singing, if it ever really began. So when does true worship end?

Worship ends when I think about me. This is introspection, not worship.

Worship ends when I think about the music. This is evaluation, not worship.

Worship ends when I think about the past. This is reflection, not worship.

Worship ends when I think about the future. This is expectation, not worship.

As long as you notice, and have to count, the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don’t notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not consciously think about the eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God. – C. S. Lewis