This week we are focusing on prayer. This is an area everyone can benefit from it's increase. Prayer takes discipline, time, effort etc. and is not an easy practice or spiritual discipline. But the rewards are worth much more than anything we put in towards it. Here are some powerful and sobering thoughts on prayer from Leonard Ravenhill. May we with open hearts be willing to sacrifice time to pray and acknowledge the true power in prayer. May we recognize our weakness as a church in the area of prayer and not be discouraged, but be encouraged to pursue this wonderful gift God has given to us.
"No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of praver. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.
The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer. The ministry of preaching is open to few; the ministry of prayer-the highest ministry of all human offices-is open to all.
The secret of praying is praying in secret. A sinning man will stop praying, and a praying man will stop sinning. We are beggared and bankrupt, but not broken, nor even bent.
For more from Leonard Ravenhill see Why Revival Tarries.
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