A.W. Tozer tells a story of an old minister, whose Christian life was revolutionized. When asked what brought about this noticeable change, he answered, “I simply promised God I would never again pray a prayer I didn’t mean.”
Some years ago while in Ireland, I picked up an old Welsh hymnal; in it is a children’s song I think conveys the old minister’s sentiment. Here is the first verse of it.
I often say my prayers,
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?
I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Lord, teach me what I need,
And teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask Thee for thy grace,
Not meaning what I say.
(John Burton 1803-77)
Some years ago while in Ireland, I picked up an old Welsh hymnal; in it is a children’s song I think conveys the old minister’s sentiment. Here is the first verse of it.
I often say my prayers,
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?
I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Lord, teach me what I need,
And teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask Thee for thy grace,
Not meaning what I say.
(John Burton 1803-77)
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