It was once said that "prayer is the mortar that holds our house together." As important as prayer is, I have heard people say in exasperation, "My prayers don't go any higher than my head!" And I have wondered why. Some obvious reasons quickly come to mind. Perhaps we need to pray Ralph Seager's prayer,
''Lord, lay the taste of prayer upon my tongue, And let my lips speak banquets unto Thee; Then may this richest feast, when once begun, Keep me in hunger through eternity," until prayer becomes more of a reality in our lives.
As you read Lillian's article perhaps you can identify with reasons she gives for an ineffective prayer life. She leaves us with hope, however, by giving practical suggestions for improvement.—Marie Spangler
While driving on the turnpike in up-State New York one day we noticed a well-dressed but bewildered man standing alongside a shiny new Cadillac. It was apparent that he was in trouble.
Since there was room, we pulled over to see if we could be of assistance.
"What's wrong?" we asked. "Can we help you?"
"I'm out of gas," he replied. "Of all times for this to happen. I'm late now to an important engagement."
Fortunately we were carrying a gallon can of gasoline, and my husband emptied
"You can get gas six miles ahead at the next service area," we told him.
The man thanked us politely, jumped into his car, and sped away.
About twelve miles down the road we were astonished to see the same man, with the same car, in the very same predicament! Not wanting to take the time to stop for fuel, he had passed up the service area.
Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? I just can't imagine what that man was thinking. Everyone knows that no matter how busy you are, or how many important engagements you have, or how big a rush you're in to salvage an appointment, if you want your car to run, you must take time to get gasoline.
I've thought about this experience many times. And I've wondered if we as Christians are just as foolish as that man. We know that our source of power is prayer. We know how very important prayer is to spiritual growth, yet how often we neglect to pray. We just don't take time to stop and connect up with the powerful resources of heaven through prayer.
Is it because we think prayer is unimportant that we neglect it? Of course not! For we know that "prayer is the breath of the soul." Gospel Workers, p. 254. "Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite." Steps to Christ, p. 97- "Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's store house, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence." Ibid., pp. 94, 95.
But even though I know how vital prayer is, I don't spend near the time that I should in prayer. Yet the subject of prayer captivates me. I read everything on prayer that I can get my hands on. I buy all of the newest books on prayer. I browse through secondhand stores for old books on prayer. I read and have memorized all of the Bible texts on prayer. I love what Ellen White has written about prayer. I read everything, I do everything but pray. I find it easier to read about prayer than it is to pray.
Why are Christians so prone to neglect prayer? Because our adversary, the devil, knows better than we do the importance of prayer. He doesn't want us to pray. He does everything he can to hinder our prayer life. He hates to see Christians praying because he knows that if he can succeed in weakening our prayer life he will succeed in killing our spiritual life.
The devil doesn't tell us that prayer is not important. Instead, he uses every tactic available to keep us from praying. He can keep us so busy doing other things, even good things such as reading our Bibles and other good books, that we have no time or energy left to devote to praying.
Besides this the devil has an ally in our own bosoms our old carnal natures that have an aversion to prayer. We seem to have a natural reluctance to pray. We are too proud to admit that we need help from outside ourselves. Prayer is usually our last resort.
If we are honest with ourselves most of us will admit that our prayer life is not what it should be. Since we have this problem, what can we do to have a more meaningful prayer life?
I have been reading a book that has been such a blessing and has answered so many questions on prayer for me that I want to recommend it to you. In his book Prayer Ole Hallesby illustrates the ideal prayer life in the story of Jesus' mother at the feast of Cana.
Apparently Mary was in charge of the wedding reception. More people than expected showed up. They ran out of punch! The first thing that Mary did was to come to Jesus. This, of course, is the first thing that we should do when we come face to face with problems or if we have some concern. Come to Jesus. It should be as natural for our thoughts to turn toward Jesus as it is for a flower to turn toward the sun.
The next thing that Mary did was to tell Jesus her problem. "They have no wine" (John 2:3).
We are told, "Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. 'The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.' James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him every thing that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. 'He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.' Ps. 147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son." Steps to Christ, p. 100.
After coming to Jesus, and after telling Him her problem, Mary did nothing more. She didn't tell Jesus what to do. She left the matter with Him. This is where most of us, I am afraid, have difficulties. And this is why our prayer lives are not what they should be. We tell God what He should do. I know this is my problem. I have it all worked out before I pray. I want to tell God every little detail of how and when He should answer my prayer.
Are you ever guilty of trying to command God, demand from Him, or even boss Him around like you do your spouse, your children, your employees? Do you have the idea that God is withholding something from you and you have got to persuade Him to give it to you? Do you feel it's up to you to get God to act on your behalf and that He has to fulfill His promises to you? If you have these concepts, your understanding of" prayer is no better than a heathen's.
According to Mr. Hallesby, prayer is simply opening our heart's door to God who stands there knocking. Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
God is knocking and waiting for us to give Him access to our hearts. He wants us to give Him the opportunity to fulfill our needs. He is just waiting for us to respond. We don't have to tell God what to do. He already knows what needs to be done, and He wants to do it. He wants us to have a meaningful prayer life. He wants us to converse with Him and have a close fellowship experience. He desires to apply the healing balm of Gilead to those deep-down wounds that no one else knows about. He wants us to realize our helplessness and our selfishness and to cast ourselves at His feet.
We need to determine never to get in such a rush that we fail to take time to get spiritual power through prayer. But unless we set a definite time for prayer each day, we will let other things crowd it out. And we need to take time to let God speak to us. We seem to feel all too often that we have to do all of the talking when we come to Jesus in prayer. But it is important to take the time to sense His presence. This is why He tells us to "be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
When we begin to pray as God wants us to, something will happen in our prayer life. Instead of not wanting to take time to pray, we will look forward in anticipation to our quiet time with God. We will get to know Him better, and He will become more real to us than any earthly friend. We will find the joy and peace of mind that He wants us to have. We will have victory in our Christian life, and the devil's darts won't take effect.
Does your heart respond to God's Spirit speaking to you? Is He telling you that your prayer life needs improvement? I know that this is my greatest need. If you feel this way, won't you take time right now to tell Him about it? Won't you open your heart and let Him in?
