The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis s1

The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:8-9 Letter # _IV– Summary Title: Prayer: Why? And Does It Work? Our Father who art in heaven. Mt 6:9-13

While prayer is invaluable and commanded of us, it is disastrously easy to think it all really depends on our feelings. CSL Strategy Matrix Area of Life Devil’s Advice God’s Way Questions, Observations Prayer Keep the patient from the intention of Pray at all times, in all situations, all Ephesians 6:18 (at all prayer altogether. kinds of prayers times) Form Or childlike parrot prayer, let it be: with WILL, INTELECT, and directly Entirely spontaneous to the Lord Inward Informal Unregularised Let him try: Producing a devotional mood (no will or intelligence) Bodily position makes no difference On our knees Mat 26:41 (Not fall Position Merely “composing ones spirit to love” Fill your minds with the Holy Spirit into temptation) Indulging “a sense of supplication” Luke 18 (parable of For clever and lazy patients the persistent widow) *whatever their bodies do affects the soul Try to keep things OUT of their minds Prevent them from attending to God There is immediate action! Daniel 9:23 Attitude “turning the gaze from God to themselves” It might take a while for an answer I Jn 5:14 (ask anything Produce their FEELINGS by the action of God’s will might not be our will according to His will) their OWN WILL Jer 29:11 (For I know Charity - charitable feelings It is for our best the plans I have for Courage – Feel brave you.. not to harm you Forgiveness – Try to feel forgiven Romans 8:26 (The Estimate the value by the feeling The Holy Spirit will intercede for us! Spirit intercedes with *let them not understand this depends on No radio interference: complete groans) their health , tired etc silence and peace Phil 4:4-7 (God’s Peter at sea peace will result)!!!!! Mt 14:28-31 (why did you doubt?) Direction Pray to “IT” not to the person who made Pray to the God your Creator, not (Our Father who art in me what you think Thou art, but what heaven) *They have never known that ghastly Thy knowest Thyself to be. luminosity, that stabbing and searing glare In the nakedness of your soul which makes the background of permanent Talk directly to God (Peter at sea) pain to our lives God’s peace means no noises( no radio interference’s) How Isaiah 62:6-7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Prayer is either an illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete person (ourselves) and the utterly concrete person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision of God its bread and wine. CSL

Final Thought: Ask God to clear our consciences: I Cor 8:7 (seared consciences), promise of Hebrews 9:14, Our response: Hebrews 10:22. Let us pray we will not become as I Tim 4:2 - Psalm 37:4 - But be faithful. Luke 16:10 Paulo&Adriana