The Discipline of Prayer
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much." James 5: 16
Reading from a book by Charles H. Spurgeon, I have learned
more about the discipline of prayer that must be put on paper. My
ideas about the amount of time needed to be spent in prayer, the
fervency of prayer, scope of one’s prayer life, and the importance
of prayer to the child of God, have been forever altered. (“Lectures
to My Students,” C.H.S., 1875)
Learning about the prayer (devotional) habits of great men of God
in the past, there must be a new attitude and practice of prayer in
my life if it is to be effective in the service of my Lord.
1. Time Spent in Prayer: Great men of God, those whose service
to the Lord was effective and lasting, had regular and daily times
to pray; their lives were the opposite of the current model. The
modern idea is that we should get out and about working for the
Lord and spend time in prayer when there seems to be nothing
else to do or our effectiveness is flagging. Prayer is irregular;
given little priority. To the “Prayer Warrior” of times past, large
chunks of time were spent in planned, fervent prayer every day,
giving power and meaning to their lives, for the Holy Spirit was
in charge.
2. Fervency in Prayer: Prayer, for a man of God in the past was
the most important activity of the day and communion with his
God was passionate and effective. Privately, hearts were bro-
ken and tears were shed for personal sin and the sin of others.
3. Scope of the Prayer Life: Some things regularly, passionately
about which they prayed, were government officials, the work,
parishioners, family, and petitions for direction from God from
the Spirit of God. Everything in the life of a man was a matter
of fervent, effectual prayer, and the Lord worked mightily.
4. The Importance of Prayer: Nothing in the life of a Spiritual
man was or is more important than an effective prayer life,
and the subsequent blessing, direction and wisdom that came,
and comes with the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of a
believer if he desires the Spirit of God working in life, effective
prayer is the one way it will happen. (The source is God, the
vehicle is prayer.)
5. Prayer of Other Believers: Good things happen in the
Kingdom of God when there are a number (2-3) of people
who agree in prayer on a given matter. When the Children
of God who pray consistently about a matter for a protrac-
ted time period, God is at work and the results are miracu-
lous. In Matthew 18: 18-20:
"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on
earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall
for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them."
(The words of Jesus Christ.)
"When God’s children work we see what man can do. When the
children of God pray, we see what God can do." (I would be very
pleased to give credit for this quote, but have been unable to find
the source. It has, never-the-less, proven true in my experience.)
Let us never forget; our faith is not in prayer, but in the one to
whom we pray. Prayer is the vehicle God has given us to get our
petitions before the "Throne of Grace."
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much." ( James 5: 16 kjv)
You would do well to read the whole of James,
reading chapter 5:13-18 to start.
Do not think, because of this post, the author has mastered
this important issue in his life. There must be a life-long
effort to "touch the hem of the garment" of effectual fer-
vent prayer, not to mention personal righteousness.
donporter 1.31., ed. 2.17.17
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