Chapter 11—The Privilege of Prayer
Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the
influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we
need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life
and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father.
Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His
works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense,
communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have
something to say to Him concerning our actual life.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it
is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order
to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us,
but brings us up to Him.
When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to
pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and
to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that
their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.
Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer.
Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that
He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh
supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and
trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities,
“in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless one His nature
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recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world
of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found
comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of
men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should
feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.
Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His
blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless
love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and
willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and
yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our
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