Week Eight - Bottomless Bowls

Spurgeon said, "We bring bowls to the altar that have no bottoms, and if the treasure should be put in them, it would fall through."

That's crazy imagery. But he's talking about prayer.

We hold up our bowl (prayer) to God, but because we have no idea what we need or our prayers are so general that they have no substance, the bowl is bottomless. If God were to give us a treasure, we would not be able to hold it.

We do not ask for what we truly need; we resist opening our necessities before the Lord, thinking we pray selfishly. I've even heard people say, "I should never pray for myself." That's foolish. Who better to pray for than the one you know most and know the necessity or need? God wants to hear from you and about you because He loves you.

If you come to prayer thinking you can hide your needs or sins from God, that is also foolish. He knows your needs and sees your fears and even your sins. There is no reason to fear talking with Him about these things. Honesty puts a bottom in your bowl, making it possible to lift your hands for mercy and find that grace to help in times of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Spurgeon says, "See thyself as bankrupt, weak, sick, dying, and this will make thee plead. See thy necessities deep as the ocean, broad as the expanse of heaven. This will make thee cry. There will be no restraining of prayer, beloved when we have a due sense of our soul's poverty; but because we  think we are rich and increased in goods, and we have need of nothing, therefore it is that we restrain prayer before God."

So, pray for yourself, your needs, fears, and concerns. Humble yourself and recognize that you need spiritual treasure from Him - come with that errand, and He will answer. And pray for others. Be that intercessor, that warrior fighting with bold faith, and your prayers won't be bottomless.

"We fail in prayer when we come without an errand, not having thought of what our necessities are," Spurgeon says, But "if we have reckoned up that we need pardon, justification, sanctification, preservation; that besides the blessing of this life, we need that our decaying graces should be revived. . . then coming with an errand we should speed before the Most High."

Friend, come before the throne ready and prepared to receive. Don't come without an errand. Come with a purpose, a holy reverence, and an honest desire to hear from God and receive from His hand.