The Severe Mercy in “Nehemiah, The Praying Builder”

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.

If the line feels severe, stay with it. Severity in the saints is often just mercy without cosmetics.