Prayer

Where Wisdom May Be Found – Charles Spurgeon

There is more wisdom in a quarter of an hour’s prayer than there is in a quarter of a year’s consultation with friends. Oftentimes when we have sought counsel of the living God he has befriended us. When we have left things with him, we have always gone wisely. Oh, how he can make the most crooked thing that ever did happen suddenly turn out to be the very straightest thing that ever occurred for our welfare. I know that sometimes I have puzzled my head about some difficulty in my Master’s service — asked opinions of lots of people, like a stupid, and I have gone home with any head aching in deeper uncertainty than ever what to do. And I have never discovered how to unravel a knotty point by my own ingenuity, but I have always found that when I at last bowed the knee, and said, “Heavenly Father, it is rather thy business than mine; it is quite beyond me, and I now leave it in thy hands to guide me,” … it has gone all right. If I had maneuvered to manage it for myself it would have gone wrong enough.

– Charles Spurgeon –

The Sweeter Are Our Reliefs – John Flavel

The more prayers and searchings of heart come between our needs and supplies, our afflictions and reliefs, the sweeter are our reliefs and supplies thereby made to us. “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

– John Flavel –
from The Mystery of Providence, 1678

Prayer is a Golden Key – Thomas Brooks

Private prayer is a golden key to unlock the mysteries of the Word to us. The knowledge of many choice and blessed truths is but the outcome of private prayer. The Word most dwells richly in their hearts who are most in pouring out their hearts before God in their closets.

– Thomas Brooks –
from The Secret Key To Heaven, 1665

True Prayer Must be Aflame – E M Bounds

Love is kindled in a flame, and ardency is its life. Flame is the air which true Christian experience breathes. It feeds on fire; it can withstand anything, rather than a feeble flame; but when the surrounding atmosphere is frigid or lukewarm, it dies, chilled and starved to its vitals. True prayer MUST be aflame. Christian life and character need to be all on fire

– E M Bounds –

 

What Makes The Devil Tremble – Samuel Chadwick

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray

– Samuel Chadwick – 

What is Making Prayer Dead – David Brainerd

The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best

– David Brainerd –

Brother, pray – Andrew Bonar

 

Brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper-and sleep too-than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber.

– Andrew Bonar –

Pray Often – John Bunyan

 

Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.

– John Bunyan –

As Valuable As Air – John Wesley

God’s command to “pray without ceasing” is founded on the necessity we have of his grace to preserve the life of God in the Soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.

– John Wesley –