The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections  
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Aug 24
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
Matthew 7:9
"What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?"

Our Life's Foundation—Prayer

Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with the Father, and that relationship is the foundation of our life. Prayer is what sustains that relationship. If our prayer life is failing, that means we are not staying in touch with the source of all that is good in our lives. Without God we are nothing. Without a faithful friendship with Him, our relationship with others will suffer. 

We often come to God asking for answers, but He looks at our relationships first. 

What earthly father gives his son a stone when he has asked for bread? Surely no one. Therefore, if an earthly father knows how to give good gifts, then our heavenly Father would surely know how to give good gifts to his children. 

Our relationship with Him reflects onto how we treat others in our lives. If we have a surly attitude toward the people in our life, if we are harsh with others, or selfish, or cold to others... how can we expect to receive from God if we are not giving of ourselves to others? God is not going to reward us for having a bad attitude toward the people in our life. First we get right with others, get our heart strings tuned to kindness, graciousness, and love toward our fellow man and then we may ask our Father in heaven for a blessing or a gift.

Restore your prayer life with Him, restore your relationship with the people you live and work with, the people you meet on the street, the people who serve you in restaurants, common everyday people who cross your path. We must examine our life... how are we treating others? 

Our prayer life is the solid foundation to build our whole life upon.

Because we are before Him—we can hide nothing from God. He is El De'ot, the God who knows (1 Samuel 2:3.) We read in Job 42:10 that God restored Job after he prayed for his friends. Intercessory prayer keeps our heart soft; therefore, prayer for others can restore our relationship with the Father.

Our heavenly Father is good, he is generous, kind, faithful, true, and trustworthy. He is omnibenevolent— perfectly good, without flaw, without limit, and unchanging. He also does not leave... so if our relationship with Him is not up to par... have we neglected the most important person in our lives? Let us come before Him in humility and ask Him to restore our hearts.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
You see me and all that I am,
forgive me, I have been unfeeling with some of the people in my life.
I have not always been kind. 
Help me to be forgiven.
Soften my heart. Cleanse and restore me with your grace.
Restore my soul with your merciful grace.
Bless my family and friends, watch over them and keep them safe.
All those that are hurting, give them comfort in their hearts.
All those that are lost draw their hearts to you, that they may be saved.
All those that are saved, draw their hearts to you, that they may be sanctified.

Breathe on the world at large that they may be drawn to know you.
Surround us with your love and mercy, your wings of protection and strength.
Guard the door of my heart that I might not sin against You,
Guard the doors of my mouth that I may speak kindly to others.
Guard my actions and cause my actions to reflect your love toward others.
In all things direct my ways to be your ways, Lord.
Forgive me where I have failed You, 
and restore my ways to reflect your ways.
In all things your will be done in my life.
In Jesus name, amen. 

Breath Prayer

You are my Lord
without You I am nothing

Selah,
~ Quil

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Supporting Scripture References

1. “Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with the Father.”

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you…” Prayer is how relationship is formed and sustained.

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Prayer is drawing near.

Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him…” Calling = prayer = relationship.

2. “That relationship is the foundation of our life.”

Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Our entire life rests on Him.

John 15:5 “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Life collapses without relationship.

3. “Prayer sustains our relationship with Him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is continual communion.

Luke 18:1 “…men ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Prayer keeps the heart alive.

4. “If our prayer life is failing… we are not staying in touch with the source of all that is good.”

Psalm 16:2 “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”

James 1:17

“Every good gift… is from above.”

5. “Without God we are nothing.” John 15:5

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain…”

6. “Without faithful friendship with Him, our relationship with others will suffer.”

This is exactly what Chambers teaches, and Scripture supports it:

1 John 4:20 “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

Matthew 22:37–39 Love God → Love others Relationship with God shapes relationship with people.

Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored Job when he prayed for his friends.” Intercessory prayer softens the heart toward others.

1 Samuel 2:3 “…for the Lord is a God of knowledge…” El De’ot = God of Knowledge