From the Inside Out, Lord, My Soul Cries Out

I am delving into a new book titled, The Best of A.W. Tozer, and over the next few weeks you should expect excerpts from it. He chooses his words so carefully, eloquently, and with so much purpose. Everyone should read Tozer. When he explains his perspective on the Christian life in a broken world, I cannot help but begin to decipher how I am doing.

Would people know I am a Christian by spending time with me? What else should I be axamining? At the end of the first few chapters, Tozer includes prayers that I intend to attempt to make my heart song. The cry of my heart goes in lots of directions, but I want it to go to him first and foremost. I invite you to pray these with me.

Read them, write them, and make them your own heart’s desire!

O God, I have tasted Thy Goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made mroe thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Being in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, come away with me." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the holy Samuel when he said to Thee, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.” Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen.

Lord, make me childlike. Deliver me from the urge to compete with another for place or prestige or position. I would be simple and artless as a a little child. Deliver me from pose and pretense. Forgive me for thinking of myself. Help me to forget myself and find my true peace in beholding thee. That Thou mayest answer this prayer, I humble myself before Thee. Lay upon me Thy easy yoke of self-forgetfulness that through it I may find rest. Amen.

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