Jerry Vines Ministries

Last week I visited the grave and house of E. M. Bounds. Since I heard he was buried in Washington, Georgia, I have wanted to make that trip.

E. M. Bounds' book Preacher and Prayer made a profound impression upon me when I was a young preacher. When I read these words he had me: "He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men - men of prayer." I have since read every book he wrote on prayer.

His life is simply told. Born in 1835. Died in 1913 at the age of 77.  Prisoner of war in the Civil War. Chaplain for the Confederate Army. Assistant editor of the Methodist Christian Advocate. Pastor of Methodist churches. The last one in Washington, Ga. 

It is said he prayed in his study every morning from 4 am until 7 am. And there he wrote his books on prayer. I would commend them to you.

The technology of the times pulls us from the "sweet hour of prayer." We are busy texting, twittering, blogging, iPhoning, googling, etc. We need to heed some old songs: "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?....Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, that calls me from a world of care…Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus…I must tell Jesus, I cannot bear these burdens alone."

If you don't have a place of prayer, get one. Your bedside. Your office desk. Outside somewhere. Some place where you can bow the knee and lift the heart toward God in prayer.

Preachers do well to ponder Bounds' words: "In every truly successful ministry prayer is an evident and controlling force." Prayer probably won’t get you elected to any office, nor asked to serve on any committee. It will, however, make your name well known in heaven!

Thanks, E. M. Bounds, for the call to prayer.