“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.” E.M. Bounds

Edward McKendree Bounds was a Methodist minister and writer.

An interesting tidbit of information about the man includes his being taken into custody for an unwillingness to swear allegiance to the federal government. He lived during the Civil War, and when an opportunity came to be released, he joined the Confederacy and served as chaplain of the Fifth Missouri Regiment.

After the war, Bounds pastored churches around the southern states. Eventually, he came to live in Georgia. From his home in Washington, Georgia, Bounds produced many devotional works that include the popular writings, even today, “Purpose in Prayer,” and “The Necessity of Prayer.”