God Knows My Prayer
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of honest prayer and living a life that glorifies God, rather than being satisfied with earthly things.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of sincere prayer and the desire for a life that glorifies God rather than being complacent with earthly comforts. He shares his practice of writing earnest prayers, expressing a deep longing to live righteously and to prioritize spiritual integrity over mere existence. Tozer's heartfelt plea is that he would rather die than live a life that does not honor God, highlighting the urgency of living a purposeful life in alignment with divine will.
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We modern Christians seem to be a strange breed in many of our ways. We are so completely satisfied with earthly things and we enjoy our creature comforts so much that we would just rather stay on here for a long, long time! Probably most of us do not tell God about that kind of desire when we pray. But for years I have made a practice of writing many of my earnest prayers to God in a little book - a book now well worn. I remind God often of what my prayers have been. One prayer in the book - and God knows it well by this time - is an honest supplication: Oh, God, Let me die rather than to go on day by day living wrong. I do not want to become a careless, fleshly old man.
I want to be right so that I can die right!
Lord, I do not want my life to be extended if it would mean that I should cease to live right and fail in my mission to glorify You all of my days! I would rather go home right now than to live on-if living on was to be a waste of God's time and my own!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Earthly Satisfaction
- The Importance of Honest Prayer
- Desiring to Live Right
- Wanting to die right
- Not wanting to live a wasted life
Key Quotes
“Oh, God, Let me die rather than to go on day by day living wrong.” — A.W. Tozer
“I would rather go home right now than to live on-if living on was to be a waste of God's time and my own!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Be honest with God in your prayers and seek to live a life that honors Him.
- Desire to live a life that glorifies God and fulfills your mission to serve Him.
- Be mindful of your priorities and avoid being satisfied with earthly things at the expense of your spiritual life.