Precept Upon Precept

Earlier this month I was reading a book from a friend in Pennsylvania on prayer. It's actually a message preached in the late 1800's. The preacher, Andrew Murray, is preaching about how to get prayers answered and why they didn't get their prayers answered like the "old timers". About that time I knew I was in trouble. The first reason he said for not getting prayers answered was because we don't worship Him in spirit and in truth. He went on to explain that we are not in harmony with God. I thought, if they weren't in 1890, I'm sure not now! Pastor Murray said, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and we need to do the same, with a teachable spirit. That was really good, so I put the book aside to digest that and went to bed.
The next morning during devotions we read Proverbs 15. We usually take turns reading, then when we are finished, I will ask the children if any of them liked a verse in particular. Josiah said he liked verse 4, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Most of the children know what a breach is. In November we visited a flood museum and they learned how the dam broke because there was a breach in the dam. They watched a good video of it too, so it was fresh in their minds. The Lord was showing me "a breach in the spirit".
The next night was our ladies Christmas meeting. We get together, eat, do a devotions, and fellowship. This time Bro. Buddy came and gave our devotions, which he has never done before. Guess what he taught on? Having the right kind of Spirit! For me the Lord was really speaking loud and clear. His first point was to have a Holy Spirit! I tried not to hang my mouth open while he taught, and it was all really good and helpful. But, for me it is all the same. The way not to have a breach in my spirit and to keep the lines opened for my prayer life is to worship in spirit and in truth. The way for me to do that is to read God's word and pray so much that I am in harmony with God :)