The Old Words Are Not Tame

A public-domain paper on prayer from E. M. Bounds, presented for focused reading and spiritual formation.

The old prayers have very little interest in making us impressive. They keep asking for mercy, light, purity, patience, and a heart that can survive contact with reality.

The source text, drawn from E. M. Bounds, turns on a simple pressure: the soul cannot heal itself by becoming more articulate. It must be addressed, searched, forgiven, and led.

Read slowly and the old cadence starts doing quiet work. It makes sin less theatrical, grace less sentimental, and holiness less abstract.

Let the prayer be smaller than your anxiety and older than your mood. That is often enough for today.