Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Praying

How hard is it sometimes to get leave of hearts to seek God! Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.

Christ was in an agony at prayer (Luke 22:44). Many when they pray are rather in a lethargy, than in an agony. When they are about the world, they are all fire; when they are at prayer, they are all ice.

The joint stock of the prayers of saints works for good to the godly. “Prayer was made without ceasing of the church to God for him. … And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him … and raised him up, … and his chains fell off” (Acts 12:5-7). The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer fetched the angel.

“Effectual fervent prayer prevails much” (James 5:16). Cold prayers, like cold suitors, never speed. Prayer without fervency, is like a sacrifice without a fire. Prayer is called a “pouring out of the soul,” to signify vehemence (1 Samuel 1:15). Formality starves prayer.

If you would keep your mind fixed in prayer, keep your eye fixed. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (Psalm 123:1). Much vanity comes in at the eye. When the eye wanders in prayer, the heart wanders. Love is a great fixer of the thoughts. He who is in love cannot keep his thoughts off the object. He who loves the world has his thoughts upon the world. Did we love God more, our minds would be more intent upon him in prayer. He who gives himself liberty to have vain thoughts out of prayer, will scarcely have other thoughts in prayer.

He that leaves off prayer leaves off to fear God. “Thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God” (Job 15:4). A man that has left off prayer is fit for any wickedness. When Saul had given over inquiring after God he went to the witch of Endor.

Faith is the breath of prayer; prayer is dead unless faith breathe in it. “Let him ask in faith” (James 1:6). “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). Without faith it is speaking, not praying. Faith must take prayer by the hand, or there is no coming nigh to God. A faithless prayer is fruitless. “They could not enter in because of unbelief,” is as true of prayer; it cannot enter into heaven because of unbelief.