Planning and Leading Worship
185
Public Prayer
Prayer moves God’s arm—Prayer moves the arm of Omnipo-
tence. He who marshals the stars in order in the heavens, whose word
controls the waves of the great deep—the same infinite Creator will
work in behalf of His people, if they will call upon Him in faith. He
will restrain all the forces of darkness, until the warning is given to
the world, and all who will heed it are prepared for His coming.—
The
Review and Herald, December 14, 1905
.
Public prayer should incorporate the principles included in
the Lord’s Prayer—Jesus taught His disciples that only that prayer
which arises from unfeigned lips, prompted by the actual wants of
the soul, is genuine, and will bring heaven’s blessing to the petitioner.
He gave a brief, comprehensive prayer to His disciples. This prayer,
for its beautiful simplicity, is without a parallel. It is a perfect prayer
for public and private life; it is dignified and elevated, yet so simple
that the child at its mother’s knee can understand it. The children of
God have repeated this prayer for centuries, and yet its luster has not
dimmed. Like a gem of value it continues to be loved and cherished.
This prayer is a wonderful production. None will pray in vain if in their
prayers are incorporated the principles contained therein. Our prayers
in public should be short, and express only the real wants of the soul,
asking in simplicity and simple trusting faith for the very things we
need. Prayer from the humble, contrite heart is the vital breath of the
soul hungering for righteousness.—
The Signs of the Times, December
3, 1896
.
Holy Spirit in the life produces powerful prayers in public—I
urge my ministering brethren to improve in their manner of praying.
This can and must be done. I must say to them, The shorter you make
your spiritless prayers, the better will it be for the congregation. It is
generally the case that the less of heaven’s vitality there is in a prayer,
the more lengthy it is. Do not spend a long time in prayer before a
congregation unless you know that God is inditing the prayer. Let the
prayers made in public be short and full of earnestness. The effectual,
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much; but the prayer uttered
in a low, monotonous tone and spiritless manner is not accepted by
God. The voice of prayer should rise to God from hearts burdened by
a sense of need. Let there be a revival of the Holy Spirit, that your