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  THE VERY SOUL OF PRAYER
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Thomas Brooks emphasizes that the essence of prayer lies in the
sincerity and engagement of the heart with God.

Topics: "Sincerity in Prayer", "The Heart of Worship"
Scripture References: 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 51:17, Psalm 62:8, Proverbs 23:26, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 6:6, Romans 10:1, Hebrews 10:22, James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true prayer is rooted in the sincerity of
the heart, as expressed in Proverbs 23:26, 'My son, give Me your heart.'
He argues that God desires our whole heart in prayer, rather than mere
eloquence or formality. Brooks points out that many fail in their prayer
life because they do not engage their hearts fully, and that heartfelt
prayer leads to divine acknowledgment and reward. He warns that prayers
lacking sincerity are empty and ineffective, likening them to mere noise
without substance. Ultimately, Brooks teaches that God listens to the
heart's cry, and only prayers that stem from a sincere heart are
accepted by Him.

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CONTENT
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"My son, give Me your heart." Proverbs 23:26

In all your closet-duties God looks first and most to

your hearts. It is not a piece, it is not a corner of the

heart, which will satisfy the Maker of the heart. The

very soul of prayer lies in the pouring out of the soul

before God. The heart is a treasure, a bed of spices,

a royal throne wherein He delights. God looks not at:

the elegance of your prayers, to see how refined they are; nor at

the geometry of your prayers, to see how long they are; nor at

the arithmetic of your prayers, to see how many they are; nor at

the music of your prayers; nor at

the sweetness of your voice; nor at

the logic of your prayers;

but at the sincerity of your prayers, how hearty they are.

The reason why so many are so unsuccessful in their

closet-duties and services, is because there is no more

of their hearts in them. No man can make sure work or

happy work in prayer but he who makes heart work on

it. When a man's heart is in his prayers, then great and

sweet will be his returns from heaven.

There is no prayer acknowledged, approved, accepted,

recorded, or rewarded by God--but that wherein the

heart is sincere.

Prayer without the heart is but as sounding brass or

a tinkling cymbal. Prayer is only lovely and weighty,

as the heart is in it, and no otherwise. It is . . .

not the lifting up of the voice,

nor the wringing of the hands,

nor the beating of the breasts,

nor an affected tone,

nor studied motions,

nor seraphical expressions;

but the stirrings of the heart, which God looks at in prayer.

God hears no more than the heart speaks. If the heart be

dumb, God will certainly be deaf. No prayer is accepted by

God--but that which is the travail of the heart.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/the-very-soul-of-prayer/
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