Chapter 51—The Prayer Meeting
The prayer meetings should be the most interesting gatherings
that are held, but these are frequently poorly managed. Many attend
preaching, but neglect the prayer meeting. Here, again, thought is
required. Wisdom should be sought of God, and plans should be laid
to conduct the meetings so that they will be interesting and attractive.
The people hunger for the bread of life. If they find it at the prayer
meeting they will go there to receive it.
Long, prosy talks and prayers are out of place anywhere, and
especially in the social meeting. Those who are forward and ever
ready to speak are allowed to crowd out the testimony of the timid and
retiring. Those who are most superficial generally have the most to
say. Their prayers are long and mechanical. They weary the angels
and the people who listen to them. Our prayers should be short and
right to the point. Let the long, tiresome petitions be left for the closet,
if any have such to offer. Let the Spirit of God into your hearts, and it
will sweep away all dry formality
Public Prayers Should Not Be Long
Christ impressed upon His disciples the idea that their prayers
should be short, expressing just what they wanted, and no more. He
gives the length and substance of their prayers, expressing their desires
for temporal and spiritual blessings, and their gratitude for the same.
How comprehensive this sample prayer! It covers the actual need of
all. One or two minutes is long enough for any ordinary prayer. There
may be instances where prayer is in a special manner indited by the
Spirit of God, where supplication is made in the Spirit. The yearning
soul becomes agonized and groans after God. The spirit wrestles as
did Jacob and will not be at rest without special manifestations of the
power of God. This is as God would have it.
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Testimonies for the Church 4:70, 71
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