Monday, July 21, 2008

Three conditions of a good prayer

AELW 6:114-115

"Therefore, there are those three conditions of a good prayer, which make it very pleasing and a sweet-smelling odor before God which cannot fail to be heard. The first is that you should take hold of the promise. The second is that you should be mortified in your distress. The third is that you should give thanks and acknowledge that you are not worthy of one act of mercy but are seeking and hoping for help through mercy alone. These virtues—chastity, sobriety, and kindness in helping the poor—are indeed praiseworthy and commanded by God, but confidence should not be placed in them. Our confidence should not rely on the Law and its works, although they should be present, but on the mercy and truth of God. Then prayer and groaning is a golden sacrifice."

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