Sunday, July 15, 2012
Commemoration of Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862
Commemoration of Bonaventure, Franciscan Friar, Bishop, Peacemaker, 1274

As I see it, true prayer is neither mystical rapture nor ritual observance nor philosophical reflection: it is the outpouring of the soul before a living God, the crying to God “out of the depths.” Such prayer can only be uttered by one convicted of sin by the grace of God and moved to confession by the Spirit of God. True prayer is an encounter with the Holy in which we realize not only our creatureliness and guilt but also the joy of knowing that our sins are forgiven through the atoning death of the divine savior, Jesus Christ. In such an encounter, we are impelled not only to bow before God and seek his mercy but also to offer thanksgiving for grace that goes out to undeserving sinners.

... Donald G. Bloesch (1928-2010), The Struggle of Prayer, Harper & Row, 1980, p. 8 (see the book; see also Ps. 130:1-4; John 16:7-11; 1 Cor. 15:57; Col. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:4-5; more at Atonement, Confession, Conviction, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Guilt, Joy, Prayer, Sin, Sinner, Soul, Thanksgiving)

 
Compilation Copyright, 1996-2024, by Robert McAnally Adams,
        Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day,
        with Robert Douglas, principal contributor
Logo image Copyright 1996 by Shay Barsabe, of “Simple GIFs”, by kind permission.
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Last updated: 04/14/16

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