pleaders; we cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer.
Prayer irrigates the fields of life with the waters which are stored up in the reservoirs
of promise.
Prayer is the thermometer of grace.
On a tradesman’s table I noticed a book labelled WANT BOOK. What a practical
suggestion for a man of prayer! He should put down all his needs on the tablets of his
heart, and then present his want book to his God. If we knew all our need, what a
large want book we should require! How comforting to know that Jesus has a supply
book, which exactly meets our want book! Promises, providences, and divine
visitations, combine to meet the necessities of all the faithful.
Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the
requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus.
God keeps a file for our prayers—they are not blown away by the wind, they are
treasured in the King’s archives.
If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never
know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of
necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty.
Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above
the clouds.
Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides,
but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you
will not fall into the enemy’s hand.
God has never given an absolutely unconditional promise to hear every prayer that
may be presented to him; but, side by side with the promise, He has put other things
which qualify and explain it.
Election is the guarantee of complete salvation, and an argument for success at the
throne of grace. He who chose us for himself will surely hear our prayers.
Prayer may be answered in anger and denied in love.
We cannot too often with fixed heart resolve to magnify the Lord; nor need we ever
hesitate to use the same words in drawing near to God, for the Lord who cannot
endure vain repetitions is equally weary of vain variations. Some expressions are so
admirable that they ought to be used again: who would throw away a cup because he
drank from it before?
Words are but the habitation of prayer, the living tenant is desire.
Prayer will make you leave off sinning, or sinning will make you leave off praying.
He can reverse nature, but he cannot reverse his own nature, and he must do this
before he can forebear to hear and answer prayer.
Many hours are spent with men, how many with your Maker?
The law of gravitation I might doubt, but the law that God hears prayer I cannot
doubt.
The way to have enquiring sinners is for us to become enquiring saints.
Teach us, thy children, to be always talking with thee, so that while we walk on
earth our conversation may be in heaven.
The essence of prayer lies in the heart drawing near to God: and it can do that
without words.
Coming events cast their shadows before them, and when God is about to bless his
people, his coming favour casts the shadow of prayer over the church.
Prayer is not meant for the Lord’s information. The question is not put to you that you may instruct him, but that he may instruct you.
The act of prayer is blessed, the habit of prayer is more blessed, but the spirit of
prayer is the most blessed of all; and it is this that we can continue for months and
years.
When the late Dr. Bacchus was ill, and near to die, a surgeon visited him, and as he
went out of the door, he was observed to speak to the servant. The good old divine
begged the attendant to tell him what the surgeon said. After some pause he said,
“Dear sir, he told me not to leave you, for you could not live more than another
half-hour.” “Then,” said the saint, “help me out of bed, let me get upon my knees and
spend my last half hour on earth in praying for the church of God, and for the
salvation of men.” What a blessed way of spending one’s last half-hour; let me rather
say—what a blessed way of spending half-an-hour at any time! Try it this afternoon!
Prayer is the autograph of the Holy Ghost upon the renewed heart.
Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus.
When your heart is like a boiling geyser, let it steam aloft in pillars of prayer.
Is there not something very wonderful about this, that we, who are both insignificant
and unworthy, should be able to speak to him who made the stars, and upholds all
things by the word of his power?
If you do not pray except when you feel like praying, you will not pray much, nor pray
when you most need it.
Prayer is dealing with God.
There are two prayers always worth praying, “Lord, show me myself,” and “Lord,
show me thyself.” May both be heard, and you will be well taught of God!
How often have I said that prayer is the breathing in of the air of heaven, and praise
is the breathing of it out again.
Thou never canst have any worthiness of thine own; therefore, if a sense of
unworthiness would check thy prayer now, it might always hinder thee from praying;
yet the Lord bids thee pray, so it must be right for thee to pray.
A true prayer is the echo of the eternal purpose.
When you stand before men, ask little, and expect less; but when you stand before
God, ask much, and expect more, and believe that he is able to do for you exceeding
abundantly above all that you ask or think.
It is well to have regular hours for devotion, and to resort to the same place for
prayer as far as possible; still, the spirit of prayer is better even than the habit of
prayer.
One drop of Christ’s blood upon a prayer must make it prosper.
I am persuaded more and more the larger I observe my own self, and certainly the
longer I observe others, that when we grow weak on our knees it is a sign of
weakness throughout the entire man.
It may be said, “We can pray at all times.” I know we can; but I fear that those who
do not pray at stated hours seldom pray at all.
May we not draw some comfort from the thought that our prayers never are
intrusions?
courtesy from : spurgeon
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