Reading Matters - E. M. Bounds

I have used Bible Explorer software at home as a reference for a number of years. It is loaded - truly loaded - with all sorts of reference books, devotionals, Bible translations/paraphrases (18 at the moment), pictures and other literature, with more available for either free or purchased download.

While I regularly use the translations and the Greek-Hebrew dictionaries and concordances, I've never taken much time to cruise through the literature section, other than to note that it includes Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and The Pilgrim's Progress. But last weekend I dipped my toe in the waters, and found a gem. Included in the package was E.M. Bounds' The Necessity of Prayer.

E.M Bounds was a Methodist preacher in the South in the last part of the ninteenth century. While his books are absolute gems, most were published only posthumously. The depth of his writing and his fervor for teaching people to pray are incredible - I'm delighting in this book. Naturally, I want to share some of it with you:

On delays in answered prayer -

Faith does not grow disheartened because prayer is not immediately honoured; it takes God at His Word, and lets Him take what time He chooses in fulfilling His purposes, and in carrying on His work.

On the need to be closely walking with God to see prayer answered -

If Jesus dwell at the fountain of my life; if the currents of His life have displaced and superseded all self-currents; if implicit obedience to Him be the inspiration and force of every movement of my life, then He can safely commit the praying to my will, and pledge Himself, by an obligation as profound as His own nature, that whatsoever is asked shall be granted.

On faith -

Faith is an operation of God, a Divine illumination, a holy energy implanted by the Word of God and the Spirit in the human soul -- a spiritual, Divine principle which takes of the Supernatural and makes it a thing apprehendable by the faculties of time and sense.

Also included in my library are two other of his books. Note that the wikipedia link includes links at the bottom to free on-line texts of each of his books. Apparently, Bible Explorer 4 is also available for a FREE download (disclaimer: I have one of the paid versions; I'm not sure how much is included in the free download, and I can guarantee that they will try to sell you add-ons).

And that's your gift from me for today - incredible Bible software, and wonderful free reading!