How To Pray Clear Through

Chapter One
How To Pray Clear Through
By: Will J. Harney

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
Matthew 7:7

"If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it."
John 14:14

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
John 15:7

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
James 5:15

"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
James 5:17,18

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."
I John 5:14,15


For one to pray clear through, necessarily, first, there must be a burden, an object in view; something must have been pressed upon your mind by the Spirit that needs praying for, or about. Here is a child very sick. The doctors tell the parents that the child is most likely going to die. Some way the parents feel led out in prayer for the healing of the child's body. They read some promises, they wait upon God. They pray, and there comes upon them a spirit of prayer, a burden of prayer. There come upon them arguments, poetry, prose, promises, and they really get into soul travail. They fast, they cry to God, they agree, the fire falls, the witness comes. They pray clear through. The child gets well.

One morning while a good woman was washing her dishes, a burden of prayer seized her spirit for a missionary friend in India. She saw that her friend was in great danger, bodily danger, danger of being killed. She saw robbers on her track. She saw them pursuing her. She fled to her bedroom, fell upon her knees, and prayed right through to God, and her friend was gloriously delivered.

One may not get into the spirit of prayer the minute he goes to prayer, or the second he falls upon his knees. It may take quite a little while to get into the spirit of prayer, to get in touch with the forces of the skies. Sometimes when we get up to build a fire there is just a coal or a small chunk of fire. What do we do? We shave some fine kindling; place them upon the coals of fire; then blow lightly until a small blaze leaps up. Then put on some more kindling; then we put on the fuel, and soon there is a roaring fire, and the room is comfortably warm.

Often times when we've gone to prayer, we were dry, and the devil did his best to keep us dry, but we had gone to prayer, and meant to pray clear through before we quit. We had taken it by the job. We were not in a hurry. We had plenty of time for prayer. We would read the 21st Psalm, the 91st Psalm, the 14th chapter of Saint John, 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians, testify to His goodness, meditate, reflect, sing "Jesus Lover of My Soul," pray awhile, praise Him, and keep this up. Don't quit. Don't get up off your knees. Stay down until you hear from Heaven. Stay there until you get into a spirit of prayer. We get what we want, that is, we get what we pray for. If we want the spirit of prayer badly enough, and will go down in earnest, it will be ours to enjoy.

A young man who was convinced that a Methodist pastor should have a helpmeet, began to cast his eyes about, and at last they fell upon a handsome young lady, the sister of a great Congressman. She was well educated and a great musician. The preacher said, "She just suits me. She can carry on the musical side of the parish, and that is a great help." But he went to prayer. He fasted and prayed. He went daily before God over this all-important step, for much hinges upon this step. He knew that many a preacher's life had been injured, his ministry hurt, by choice of a wrong companion; hence this preacher waited upon God. Seemingly, he could not get into the spirit of prayer. Seemingly, he could not get the ear of God, and he could not get the mind of God. But he kept praying. One time he prayed clear through, and the Spirit said, "No, she's not the woman for you."

Thirteen years had come and gone, and this preacher had become a famous evangelist. Conducting a series of meetings in a large southern city, he saw an eminent lawyer one night at the altar, crying and pleading with God for pardon. He knelt by the lawyer's side; placing his arms about him, he said, "Sir, what is your trouble?" The lawyer looked up into his face, and said. "May I have a private interview with you tomorrow?" During the conference the lawyer said to the preacher, "I married Congressman So-and-So's sister. She was a beautiful woman, well educated, and a great musician, but she is making life a hell on earth to me." When this preacher got back into his room, he jumped all over the floor, clapping his hands, and praising God that he didn't get her for a wife. You see if the devil could have kept that preacher from praying clear through, perhaps he would have gotten that woman, and thousands of souls would not have been saved.

When a burden comes upon your soul, or the Spirit leads you out along any line in prayer, take time, plenty of time to get alone with God in prayer. Stay there. Don't get up. Don't be in a hurry. Don't get nervous. Don't look at your watch. Never stop until you get the mind of God. It is dangerous to your own soul; it is destructive to God's cause committed to you. It will cause you to lose the blessed spirit of prayer, when He leads you out, and you fail to follow; fail to stay upon your knees; fail to pray clear through. God would not burden your heart, God would not make you hungry, lead you out, causing you to wrestle, to agonize, to fast and pray, unless He meant to answer. It's proof of the fact when the burden continues, and the Spirit continues to lead you out, that there's an answer, and God wants you to pray clear through.

A good woman who was tied to her bed by a malady, prayed three years, once every day, for one hour, for a great revival to break out in her home church, in her home town. Sunday after Sunday she would ask her sister, who was taking care of her, when she came from church, whether anything had happened. Had anything new taken place? God kept burdening her. The spirit of prayer kept leading her out. She became more anxious. She would weep and cry, but every Sunday when her sister came in from church, she told her that the same old, dry folks prayed those long, dry prayers, and the choir sang so but few in the audience could understand anything they said, and the preacher discussed science, and there was nothing being done. The devil teased this honest heart. He said, "You prayed and cried and fasted for three years, and there isn't a single sign of a revival." But one Sunday morning the sister came in and went right to the bed of her sick sister, saying, "A new preacher preached this morning, and I tell you he was a warm member. He woke things up." That night the sister came home about 10:30, and said the altar was crowded, and there were between two hundred and fifty and five hundred souls blessedly saved in that meeting.

Get on two or three good promises. Press down hard on them. Anchor to them. Things will break up. Things will break loose. Things will break over. God hears you, and His thoughts toward you are good. He will answer. Dare to trust Him anywhere. God always hears and answers prayer.

Praying Clear Through by Will Harney

Works published in 1922 and earlier are in the public domain. "Praying Clear Through" by William J. Harney was last copyrighted in 1916. That means that the book is officially owned by you.

Copyrights are essentially the exclusive right to make a copy. Society grants a temporary monopoly to an author for copying and selling a text. Then, after it expires, it becomes owned by the public at large. Why? Because without public ownership texts will slowly die without the ability to be shared. And the knowledge in them has better use to a society than to just let them disappear.

I personally found "Praying Clear Through" years ago and found reading it to be a blessing to my life. I can't tell you to go get a copy ( you can't ... yet ) so I figured I would share it with you this way. So I'll be "republishing" it here a chapter per post. I'll edit for clarity at times. When Pastor Harney uses third person for his voice I'll change it to first person. And I hope to fix any editing errors as well. That should be all that my contribution is to this text.

So let's start.

Praying Clear Through


William J. Harney
Preacher -- Evangelist of Wilmore, Kentucky


Edited by Mark Arrasmith

DESCRIPTION

A book on a subject essential to all who would get into a state of grace, and grow therein; also for those who study to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed. "O Thou, by whom we come to God, The Life, the Truth, the Way; The path of prayer Thyself hast trod; Lord, teach us how to pray."


PRINTING

1915 God's Revivalist Press Cincinnati, Ohio
Printed Book Copyright 1916 God's Revivalist Office


DEDICATION

To My Precious Wife, Whose Devotion To Principle, Loyalty To Light, And Courage,And Faith In Duty, Have Been My Constant Inspiration; Whose Kind, Gentle Womanhood And Thoughtful Motherhood Have Blessed And Hallowed Our Sunny Home,This Book Is Lovingly Dedicated By The Author.


AN EARNEST PRAYER

Our Father, assist us as we open this book, to get out of each and every chapter, that Thou hast in each thought, for each and every reader. May we read slowly, cautiously, digesting all we read. Forbid we should be surface readers, but grant us Thy good Spirit to help us to use our picks, drills and sledges, getting down into every thought and out of every thought that which will help us most. Too many read just to be reading. Too few really get into the thoughts. Lead us and may we follow. Help us to study, to be real students. Bless each reader and grant us Thy continued presence. Bless this book. Thou knowest the hours in real soul travail, the tears and heart agony it cost the author.


PREFACE

It has been the author's firm conviction that the crying need of this age is a praying Christianity. When the weakest saint falls upon his knees the devil trembles. If the weakest can cause him to fear, what about a Daniel? A Paul? One's experience is as rich and his faith and as strong as his prayer life. In all my ministry, I have never failed when I could get the church on her knees. Christians all over the country having read my articles, and heard my sermons and lectures on this vital subject, have begged for this book. I know that the prayer life is the Christian's force, the Christian's power-house, and the more we pray the stronger will we be against evil and for the right.

I have not written this book for the learned man, nevertheless he can find food for his soul, but for those who want, and need, help in their prayer life. I have written this book while upon the field of battle and in the thickest of the fight, where God answered by fire every heart-cry of His children.

Let me urge each and every reader to begin today a constant waiting upon God; an unrelenting, deep, quiet prayer life. We must get quiet to get the ear of God. I know, by twenty-five years' experience, that God will hear, and that God does answer prayer. I wish for every reader a burden for prayer, a hunger for prayer. We must pray. We must never quit just because we do not get the answer at once. When God leads out in prayer, follow earnestly, He is leading, there is something ahead. Take notice, look, listen, get ready. The cloud is rising. There is soon to be a going in the mulberry-trees. Do not read one chapter and quit the book, but give each and every chapter a faithful reading.

The Saint who has done most for God and his fellows has been the one who has prayed most, for it is through this channel that we get the working grace. We will do more, and that the easier, by living upon our faces longer. It is very destructive to rush into the white harvest-fields with a prayerless life. It spells defeat to God. The man who is winning most souls for God is he who lingers much and long in the closet of prayer.

Yours in much prayer, Will J. Harney


INTRODUCTION

"Take time to pray!
When fears and foes distress you,
And tiresome toils oppress you,
Then the Master waits to bless you,
If you'll take time to pray.

"Take time to pray!
Come what there may To stand in the way:
Look often to Jesus And take time to pray."

"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
I Timothy 2:8

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Matthew 6:6

The author could not have chosen a more important subject on which to write. Indeed, if every Holiness book contained one or more chapters on prayer; or rather, if the opening and closing chapters of every book were on this great theme, it would not be amiss, for today there is a universal confession among Christians of "neglect of the secret closet." Jesus said, "Men ought always to pray and not faint," and is not this neglect the cause of so many falling away from the Truth, so many not going on unto perfection?

The author caught the vision and has seen the reality of that vision through the secret of Prevailing Prayer. The book is only a record of how God answers him who calls; how God gives victory to the man who will hear from Heaven.

We send it forth trusting the Holy Spirit to use it to enlighten the children of God on the attacks of the enemy on the "secret chamber;" to arouse them to the glorious possibilities of prevailing prayer; to help them learn the secret of "Praying Clear Through." Amen!

Read it; study it; obey its injunctions; and for God's glory, circulate it.

Meredith G. Standley

Day 87

As You Rise ... Jeremiah 32-36

Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3
Chapter 36 in mp3

Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

LORD ...
I raise my voice to praise You.
I lift my arms in surrender and lower my head in humility.

For You are good.
For all that we have is by Your Grace.

I live a life in love of respect for Your Power and Your Love.

For You alone are God.

As You Walk By The Way ... Jeremiah 37-42

Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3
Chapter 39 in mp3
Chapter 40 in mp3
Chapter 41 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3

Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you.

LORD ...

I pray for forgiveness.

I beg for forgiveness.

For the sins in my heart that a foolishly imagine to hide for You.

For the sin on not acting as You have called me to live.

LORD ... forgive

LORD ... restore

When You Lie Down ... Hebrews 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

LORD ...

You are my Father. And like a child I have tried to walk without your hand in mine. I've run away at times, and then when I was frightened I ran back.

I'm so like the young child.

Help me to grow closer to you. To not go astray. But, to walk in the Light with confidence in You. For you ARE God.

Day 80

As You Rise ... Isaiah 30-33

Chapter 30 in mp3
Chapter 31 in mp3
Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3

For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

The world hates the light.

The world doesn't want to see. The world doesn't want to hear.

All around you today is the serpent's tongue whispering that whatever your heart desires is right. It is a tempting argument as well. Because then you only have to worry about fulfilling your desires.

It is up to you to know God's truth. To work on aligning your heart to the will of God. And to bring your mind and body under the control. These things are hard. But the reward is eternal.

As You Walk By The Way ... Isaiah 34-38

Chapter 34 in mp3
Chapter 35 in mp3
Chapter 36 in mp3
Chapter 37 in mp3
Chapter 38 in mp3

Was Christ who he said he was?

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

Yes he was.

When You Lie Down ... Colossians 1-4

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

I'm not a Paul. I'm not even one of the lowest men and women who worked along side of him. Paul was good at coming up with lists of things that make me KNOW that I still have to work to be more like Christ. I definitely can't say as he does: act like I do.

But, there is one small, and yet huge, thing that all Christians can act as Paul did. Do not cease to pray. Pray that you and other Christians will be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all things and of God's love.

Just talk with God. He is waiting for you.

Day 65

As You Rise ... Psalms 91-94

Chapter 91 in mp3
Chapter 92 in mp3
Chapter 93 in mp3
Chapter 94 in mp3

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.

Do you have an early memory of being held? It is more of remembering an emotion than an event for me. But, I do remember sitting in my mother's lap at church as she held me. Being embraced is a wonderful feeling.

And it is an amazing description of God and how He covers us.

As You Walk By The Way ...Psalms 95-99

Chapter 95 in mp3
Chapter 96 in mp3
Chapter 97 in mp3
Chapter 98 in mp3
Chapter 99 in mp3

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

We are going to the Texas coast for vacation. One thing I am looking forward to is taking time and praying in the morning as I walk along the coastlands.

When You Lie Down ... Romans 15-16

Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

A good try to get along with your neighbors is to try and build them up. To help them and to encourage them.

Too often I don't take the time to really love my neighbors. To get to know them. Not as the neighbor who gets nosy and irritating. But, one who just shows they care. By getting out of my house when I'm at home. By playing with all the neighbor kids in my yard. By spending time with my wife and kids just walking up and down the houses and saying hi.

And when I ask "How are you?" to really mean it. And to really want an honest answer. And to really listen to the answer.

Day 59

As You Rise ... Psalms 40-43

Chapter 40 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3
Chapter 42 in mp3
Chapter 43 in mp3

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.

When I sit at the bottom of depression. When I look around and only see the fallen nature of my flesh and despair. When I am down upon my knees and fall forward into the mud of self hatred.

I stop. I sit back and raise my face to the sky.

The LORD is God. He IS.

I open my arms to feel the rain of His creation. To listen to the laughter of my children. To watch the sky burn red as night comes. To taste the wonders of the fruit of the land. To smell the earth after the rain.

LORD you Are. You are my Hope. You are the Hope of the world.

You Are and You love us. Flaws and all.

As You Walk By The Way ...Psalms 44-48

Chapter 44 in mp3
Chapter 45 in mp3
Chapter 46 in mp3
Chapter 47 in mp3
Chapter 48 in mp3

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Do. Do. Do. We've got to keep moving. If you stop the world will run you over. No being still here. Keep up. Run. What are you doing sitting there? Get to watching TV! Get to listening to the music! Get to doing your homework! Get to yelling at the kids! Move Move Move.

...
...
...

Just be still. Just stop. Get down on your knees. Is the TV off? Is the music off? Hold your children close. Tell them you love them. Tell them how God loves them. Describe the beauty that God has placed within you and them.

Be Still. And Pray.

When You Lie Down ... Acts 27-28

Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

... see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.

In the hard times the load becomes easier if we can see, hear, and understand what God has done for us before.

So bring before your eyes what God has done. Is it your children? Is it friends? Is it your wealth? Is it your status? Now take what you see and give it over to the LORD.

Bring before your ears what God has done for you. It is the songs of your kids as they play? Is it the word of encouragement of a friend? Is it the praise of a boss? Now take what you hear and give it over to the LORD.

Turn all that you are back to the LORD.

Day 50

As You Rise ... Job 1-5

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3

And here we come to one of my favorite books of the Bible: Job.

Let the day perish on which I was born.

And so begins the argument of Job to God. What touches me about Job is that he is so open with God and his friends. He knows he did no wrong and he is confused about justice. About how the LORD deals with the evil men of the world. And how he is being dealt with in his own life.

He cries out in pain. Both emotional and physical pain. He is hurt and confused. Job is like all of us in suffering. Though he certainly suffered more than anyone I have known.

The lessons of Job are not about suffering in silence. It is about the struggle of your own suffering and reaching out to God and others.

As You Walk By The Way ...Job 6-10

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3
Chapter 10 in mp3

If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.

I may die tonight driving home. God may feel I deserve to die for sins in my life. Or it just may be the time that He acts to take me out of this world.

How I die, or why, or when does not matter. What matters is how I live my life NOW. Each of us has a life that is essentially one-on-one with God. Each of Job's children had that same life. We the readers know, and Job knew, that why they died was not for their sins against God. The plan they were part of was larger than that. Just as the arc of your life is larger than what you see or what you even know as your life.

Lastly, for those that are grieving it is foolish and cruel to feel righteous anger towards them. And it is stupid to vent that anger in hateful words as Job's friends had done. If those that hurt are angry with God, so be it. It is silly to imagine that we can protect God from someone being angry with Him. God IS. He can certainly handle a relationship with someone in pain.

Your calling is to be His hands and feet in this world. Not the hateful mouth.

When You Lie Down ... Acts 7-8

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears ...

How true for those that don't want to hear the truth. We stop up our ears. For myself, the way I stop them up is with anger and not letting the other person speak. To fill my ears with noise.

LORD, open me up.
Open my eyes to see the hurt.
Open my ears to listen to those in pain.
Open my heart to feel the pain and suffering of others.

Day 27

As You Rise ... 1 Samuel 13-16

Chapter 13 in mp3
Chapter 14 in mp3
Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3

My time isn't God's time.

It is sometimes hard to remember that. We have our day planner, google calender, phone with task lists and email and IM. "Alright Lord ... does Thursday next week work for you? It would be best then ... If not maybe ... the .... Monday after in the afternoon?"

LORD, I pray for patience and the strength to do my tasks for only this day.

As You Walk By The Way ... 1 Samuel 17-21

Chapter 17 in mp3
Chapter 18 in mp3
Chapter 19 in mp3
Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3

Stones from mountain streams are so cold and smooth in your hand. Water continually runs on them wearing them down to a polish like finish. Five small stones started as rocks and God placed them in a stream years ago. Years passed by as people came an went. In all that time the stones waited for the young boy to trust more in God than in size and power.

In your life is God placing you in the stream to be worn down and smoothed for use? Or is God waiting for you to pick up what He has made and to do what is right?

When You Lie Down ... Luke 10-11

Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

A big issue with math homework is ... "How much do I have to do?" Students always seem to want to do as little as possible. It may be that they are busy or lazy. But, they just want to do only what they absolutely have to. The truth of mathematics is ... you have to do as much as you can possibly do to learn it. You learn nothing if you just want to pass by the skin of your teeth.

In the question to Christ above the man was asking what was the least amount of work he had to do. It is interesting the answer wasn't ... "you need to get 70% correct to pass." The answer was ... "you need to give it your all to pass."

Day 20

As You Rise ... Deuteronomy 30-31

Chapter 30 in mp3
Chapter 31 in mp3

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

This is one of the reasons I wanted to do this Bible study. To keep the Word of God near me. To keep God close in my life is to keep His Word close in my life. If I don't talk to God ( pray ) or listen to God ( the Bible and listening during prayer ) how can I grow as a Christian.

If my mind is continually on me ... I will live a rather sad life.

As You Walk By The Way ... Deuteronomy 32-34

Chapter 32 in mp3
Chapter 33 in mp3
Chapter 34 in mp3

But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked;
you grew fat, stout, and sleek;
then he forsook God who made him
and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.

And that is how I see my nation today. Forsaking the LORD. Scoffing at our own salvation. We are fat with wealth and we think of ourselves as oh so sleek and beautiful. We sacrifice for that which is not God and seek out abominations to perform. But, that way is a suicidal mindset. For on this path ... God will not rest with us anymore. His face will turn and we will know He is God.

When You Lie Down ... Mark 15-16

Chapter 15 in mp3
Chapter 16 in mp3

What are all the fears you have that keep you from telling others about God? For me it is fear for my standing with my co-workers. Or how others will see me. Or of losing my job.

Oh Lord ... I pray for the courage to speak what you would have me to say.

Day 17

As You Rise ... Deuteronomy 1-5

Chapter 1 in mp3
Chapter 2 in mp3
Chapter 3 in mp3
Chapter 4 in mp3
Chapter 5 in mp3

... know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.

The Lord is God. I take comfort in that.

No matter what I do. No matter the pains or doubt. No matter what the world says or does. No matter who imagines themselves to be in charge. No matter what foolish thoughts of control we have.

The Lord is God.

As You Walk By The Way ... Deuteronomy 6-9

Chapter 6 in mp3
Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3
Chapter 9 in mp3

My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.

After the Great Wall of China was built the leaders forgot why they needed it. From behind the safety of the wall they began to hate and plot against the man that had created their safety. The very safety the wall and the men standing on it provided led to the forgetfulness and hatred.

In the same way we look upon God. He leads us and protects us. But, after awhile we only see the safety and wonder why we need God. Are we alone not enough? Isn't our own power and minds enough?

I wonder if I'm strong enough to pray that God will show me my weakness. It is a fearful thing to pray that the LORD will temper us in fire.

When You Lie Down ... Mark 10-11

Chapter 10 in mp3
Chapter 11 in mp3

... he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

America is rich. We are powerful. We are safe. That wealth, that power, that safety leads to us living under the illusion that it is US not GOD that is enough. It is very hard for us, you and me ... the wealthy, to rely upon God enough to realize we need saved. And if you live in America do not delude yourself into thinking your are not rich. You are.

Just as the illusionist fakes you out into believing in the lie of magic. Your own wealth fakes you out into believing in the lie of your own power.

I daily wonder how close is God to crushing that illusion?

Day 2

I'm adding mp3 links for the text as well as the shockwave flash player that I used on Day 1. That way you can listen on data-plan cell phones or just download the mp3 to listen to on the way to and from work.

As You Rise ... Genesis 20-24

Chapter 20 in mp3
Chapter 21 in mp3
Chapter 22 in mp3
Chapter 23 in mp3
Chapter 24 in mp3

Hold nothing back. Leave it all on the field. We use those phrases often for sports. But, when it comes to God we tend to hold what we desire most back from Him. We don't give Him the best of our gifts. Abraham was called to give what he most loved and he didn't hold it back. He was going to leave it all on the field. All of the blood of his only son. God also gave it all ... so why can't we at least work to give our best?

As You Walk By The Way ... Genesis 25-28

Chapter 25 in mp3
Chapter 26 in mp3
Chapter 27 in mp3
Chapter 28 in mp3

After getting a stomach virus last week I didn't think I'd ever be hungry. Then I spent an afternoon helping my father-in-law clean up a hedge tree. After awhile, even with a lot of work to be done, I was willing to cut the work short just to get some supper. How often do we do that with our spiritual life? Just like Esau we cut the work God has given us short just for temporary comfort. Rather, tighten your belt and get back to work. The sun is going down and there is precious little time left to us.

When You Lie Down ... Matthew 7-8

Chapter 7 in mp3
Chapter 8 in mp3

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. Matt 8:34

I have been praying. Praying for the healing hand of God to stun the doctors. To reach into a life and leave everyone surrounding those whom I am praying for to just be stunned by healing. That they would go home speechless and confused about a miracle.

I have had that prayer answered before. And it was frightening ... even though I asked for it. Seeing God really work, to really answer us, can be a heart stopping event. An entire city came out to BEG Jesus to leave because of that same fear.

Maybe I'll also pray for the courage to accept answered prayers.

Week in a Day

O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.

The tile of these pages ... "Praying Clear Through" ... comes from a book by Rev. W. J. Harney. I don't remember where I bought it. Though it was most likely at a garage sale. Published in 1915 by God's Revivalist Press it is a book about what it says. Praying Clear Through to God.

For these pages I'll add my own thoughts and quotes from the book every now and then. But, primarily I want to just cover the bible. Not just by reading, but by listening. I don't believe that the Word of God was meant for us to read silently. It was meant to be upon our lips and in our ears. When Ezra read Genesis though Deuteronomy it only took him from sunrise to noon ( Nehemiah 8:1-6 ). Today if you would listen to one of the many free online resources it would take about 13 hours of your time. And the entire bible would take just over 70 hours.

So I'll post audio links provided by esv.org that will take up about 20 minutes of your morning, 20 over lunch, and 20 minutes of your evening. Why 20 minutes? Because that would cover the entire bible in about 11 weeks, less than the typical quarter of a Sunday School schedule.

I'll end by stealing Harney's dedication ...

To My Precious Wife,
Whose Devotion To Principle,
Loyalty to Light, and Courage,
and Faith in Duty,
Have Been My Constant Inspiration;
Whose Kind Gentle Womanhood
and
Thoughtful Motherhood
Have Blessed and Hallowed
Our Sunny Home.