A Call to Prayer J. C. Ryle 1875
“Men ought always to pray” - Luke 18:1 “I will that men pray everywhere” - 1 Timothy 2:1
Contents page
Lesson 8
Advice to the Unsaved ............................................... 2
Lesson 9
Counsel to the Saints ................................................. 5
Lesson 10
The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit ............................ 9
Lesson 11
Intercessory Prayer: Its Necessity and Urgency ..... 12
Lesson 12
Asking with Definite Need and Assurance of the Answer
Lesson 13
God Beckons Us to Pray.......................................... 17
Lesson 14
The Grounds of Our Confidence ............................. 19
Appendix 1: The Prayer Circle ..................................................... 22
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Suggestions… This study is based on the booklets A Call to Prayer by J. C. Ryle, and Times of Refreshing by L. R. Shelton, Jr. Please answer the questions from the information given in the reading text. Each section in the text corresponds to a lesson you are doing. Before you begin the questions, be sure and read the booklet’s sections for the lesson you are taking. Please read slowly enough so you understand what you read. It is also always good to pray before each lesson, asking the LORD for wisdom to apply what you learn to your lifeand to enable you to love Him with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength... for this is the first commandment (Mark 12:30). Most questions are response questions, and are intended to support a basic understanding of the material. These questions form the basic part of the study. Making It Personal questions bring the biblical principles into practical application. Please answer these in your own words. The goal here is change in your own life toward God. There are no right or wrong answers; we are looking only for your honesty with yourself in personal commitments.
Part I (continued) A Call to Prayer by J. C. Ryle
Lesson 8
Advice to the Unsaved A Call to Prayer Chapter 8
There is no excuse
Let me speak a parting word to those who do not pray. I dare not suppose that all who read these pages are praying people. If you are a prayerless person, suffer me to speak to you this day on God’s behalf. Prayerless reader, I can only warn you, but I do warn you most solemnly. I warn you that you are in a position of fearful danger. If you die in your present state, you are a lost soul. You will only rise again to be eternally miserable. I warn you that of all professing Christians you are most utterly without excuse. There is not a single good reason that you can show for living without prayer.
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It is useless to say you know not how to pray. Prayer is the simplest act in all religion. It is simply speaking to God. It needs neither learning nor wisdom nor book knowledge to begin it. It needs nothing but heart and will. The weakest infant can cry when he is hungry. The poorest beggar can hold out his hand for alms, and does not wait to find fine words. The most ignorant man will find something to say to God, if he has only a mind. It is useless to say you have no convenient place to pray in. Any man can find a place private enough, if he is disposed. Our Lord prayed on a mountain; Peter on the housetop; Isaac in the field; Nathaniel under the fig tree; Jonah in the whale’s belly. Any place may become a closet, an oratory, and a Bethel, and be to us the presence of God. It is useless to say you have no time. There is plenty of time, if men will employ it. Time may be short, but time is always long enough for prayer. Daniel had the affairs of a kingdom on his hands, and yet he prayed three times a day. David was ruler over a mighty nation, and yet he says, “Evening and morning and at noon will I pray” (Ps. 55:17). When time is really wanted, time can always be found. It is useless to say you cannot pray till you have faith and a new heart, and that you must sit still and wait for them. This is to add sin to sin. It is bad enough to be unconverted and going to hell. It is even worse to say, “I know it, but will not cry for mercy.” This is a kind of argument for which there is no warrant in Scripture. “Call ye upon the Lord,” saith Isaiah, “while he is near” (Isa. 55:6). “Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord,” says Hosea (Hos. 14:1). “Repent and pray,” says Peter to Simon Magus (Acts 8:22). If you want faith and a new heart, go and cry to the Lord for them. The very attempt to pray has often been the quickening of a dead soul. Oh, prayerless reader, who and what are you that you will not ask anything of God? Have you made a covenant with death and hell? Are you at peace with the worm and the fire? Have you no sins to be pardoned? Have you no fear of eternal torment? Have you no desire after heaven? Oh that you would awake from your present folly. Oh that you would consider your latter end. Oh that you would arise and call upon God. Alas, there is a day coming when many shall pray loudly, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” but all too late; when many shall cry to the rocks to fall on them and the hills to cover them, who would never cry to God. In all affection, I warn you, beware lest this be the end of your soul. Salvation is very near you. Do not lose heaven for want of asking. Do you desire salvation?
Let me speak to those who have real desires for salvation, but know not what steps to take, or where to begin. I cannot but hope that some readers may be in this state of mind, and if there be but one such I must offer him affectionate counsel. In every journey there must be a first step. There must be a change from sitting still to moving forward. The journeyings of Israel from Egypt to Canaan were long and wearisome. Forty years pass away before they crossed Jordan. Yet there was some one who moved first when they marched from Ramah to Succoth. When does a man really take his first step in coming out from sin and the world? He does it in the day when he first prays with his heart. In every building the first stone must be laid, and the first blow must be struck. The ark was one hundred and twenty years in building. Yet there was a day when Noah laid his axe to the first tree he cut down to form it. The temple of Solomon was a glorious building. But there was a day when the first huge stone was laid deep in mount Moriah. When does the building of the Spirit really begin to appear in a man’s heart? It begins, so far as we can judge, when he first pours out his heart to God in prayer. What to do
If you desire salvation, and want to know what to do, I advise you to go this very day to the Lord Jesus Christ, in the first private place you can find, and earnestly and heartily entreat him in prayer to save your soul. Tell him that you have heard that he receives sinners, and has said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Tell him that you are a poor vile sinner, and that you come to him on the faith of his own invitation. Tell him you put yourself wholly and entirely in his hands; that you feel vile and helpless, and hopeless in yourself: and that except he saves you, you have no hope of being saved at all. Beseech
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him to deliver you from the guilt, the power, and the consequences of sin. Beseech him to pardon you, and wash you in his own blood. Beseech him to give you a new heart, and plant the Holy Spirit in your soul. Beseech him to give you grace and faith and will and power to be his disciple and servant from this day for ever. Oh, reader, go this very day, and tell these things to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you really are sincere about your soul. Tell him in your own way, and your own words. If a doctor came to see you when sick you could tell him where you felt pain. If your soul feels its disease indeed, you can surely find something to tell Christ. Doubt not
Doubt not his willingness to save you, because you are a sinner. It is Christ’s office to save sinners. He says himself, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Wait not because you feel unworthy. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. Waiting comes from the devil. Just as you are, go to Christ. The worse you are, the more need you have to apply to him. You will never mend yourself by staying away. Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you. Just as a mother understands the first lispings of her infant, so does the blessed Savior understand sinners. He can read a sigh, and see a meaning in a groan. Despair not because you do not get an answer immediately. While you are speaking, Jesus is listening. If he delays an answer, it is only for wise reasons, and to try if you are in earnest. The answer will surely come. Though it tarry, wait for it. It will surely come. Oh, reader, if you have any desire to be saved, remember the advice I have given you this day. Act upon it honestly and heartily, and you shall be saved.
Study Questions: Lesson 8 First please read chapter 8 in the text. There is no excuse 1. “Prayerless reader,... if you die in your present state, you are a lost soul!” If you profess to know Christ, but have not had personal private prayer, are you surprised that Ryle concludes that your salvation is in question? How do you respond to this? 2. What is the answer to the person who says “I know not how to pray”? 3. What is the answer to the person who says “I have no convenient place to pray”? 4. What is the answer to the one who says, “I have no time to pray”? 5. What is the answer to the person who says “I cannot pray till I have faith and a new heart,” and who sits and waits for these to be given to him? 6. “Oh, prayerless reader,... In all affection I warn you, beware lest this be the end of your soul. Salvation is very near you. Do not lose heaven for want [lack] of asking.” What is your personal response to this, and to the questions in the last paragraph of this section? Do you desire salvation? 7. a. When does a man really take his first step in coming out from sin and the world? b. When does the building of the Spirit really begin to appear in a man's heart? What to do 8. a. Do you desire salvation? b. What should you do if you desire salvation, and want to know what to do next? c. Have you done this? 9. Summarize what we should say to Jesus when we ask Him to save us. Please remember that the author only suggests these specific words. They serve only as a guide. When praying for salvation, use your own words and pray with a sincere heartfor God looks on
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the heart, not on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Doubt not 10. What answer does Ryle give for each of these concerns: a. “Doubt not His willingness to save you.” b. “Wait not because you feel unworthy.” c. “Fear not because your prayer is stammering.” d “Despair not because you do not get an answer immediately.” e. Which of these concerns have applied to you, and what is your response now? 11. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 8: “Advice to the Unsaved.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “Advice to the Unsaved.” a. Isaiah 55:6-7 b. Matthew 11:28-30 c. John 6:27,34-35
Lesson 9
Counsel to the Saints A Call to Prayer Chapter 9
The Struggle
Let me speak, lastly, to those who do pray. I trust that some who read this tract know well what prayer is, and have the Spirit of adoption. To all such, I offer a few words of brotherly counsel and exhortation. The incense offered in the tabernacle was ordered to be made in a particular way. Not every kind of incense would do. Let us remember this, and be careful about the matter and manner of our prayers. Brethren who pray, if I know anything of a Christian’s heart, you are often sick of your own prayers. You never enter into the apostle’s words, “When I would do good, evil is present with me,” so thoroughly as you sometimes do upon your knees. You can understand David’s words, “I hate vain thoughts.” You can sympathize with that poor converted Hottentot who was overheard praying, “Lord, deliver me from all my enemies, and above all, from that bad man-myself.” There are few children of God who do not often find the season of prayer a season of conflict. The devil has special wrath against us when he sees us on our knees. Yet, I believe that prayers which cost us no trouble should be regarded with great suspicion. I believe we are very poor judges of the goodness of our prayers, and that the prayer which pleases us least, often pleases God most. Suffer me then, as a companion in the Christian warfare, to offer you a few words of exhortation. One thing, at least, we all feel: we must pray. We cannot give it up. We must go on. Position
I commend then to your attention, the importance of reverence and humility in prayer. Let us never forget what we are, and what a solemn thing it is to speak with God. Let us beware of rushing into his presence with carelessness and levity. Let us say to ourselves: “I am on holy ground. This is no other than the gate of heaven. If I do not mean what I say, I am trifling with God. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Let us keep in mind the words of Solomon, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let
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not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou on earth” (Eccl. 5:2). When Abraham spoke to God, he said, “I am dust and ashes.” When Job spoke to God, he said, “I am vile.” Let us do likewise. I commend to you the importance of praying spiritually. I mean by that, that we should labor always to have the direct help of the Spirit in our prayers, and beware above all things of formality. There is nothing so spiritual but that it may become a form, and this is specially true of private prayer. We may insensibly get into the habit of using the fittest possible words, and offering the most scriptural petitions, and yet do it all by rote without feeling it, and walk daily round an old beaten path. I desire to touch this point with caution and delicacy. I know that there are certain great things we daily want, and that there is nothing necessarily formal in asking for these things in the same words. The world, the devil, and our hearts, are daily the same. Of necessity we must daily go over old ground. But this I say, we must be very careful on this point. If the skeleton and outline of our prayers be by habit almost a form, let us strive that the clothing and filling up of our prayers be as far as possible of the Spirit. As to praying out of a book in our private devotions, it is a habit I cannot praise. If we can tell our doctors the state of our bodies without a book, we ought to be able to tell the state of our souls to God. I have no objection to a man using crutches when he is first recovering from a broken limb. It is better to use crutches, than not to walk at all. But if I saw him all his life on crutches, I should not think it matter for congratulation. I should like to see him strong enough to throw his crutches away. Practice
I commend to you the importance of making prayer a regular business of life. I might say something of the value of regular times in the day for prayer. God is a God of order. The hours for morning and evening sacrifice in the Jewish temple were not fixed as they were without a meaning. Disorder is eminently one of the fruits of sin. But I would not bring any under bondage. This only I say, that it is essential to your soul’s health to make praying a part of the business of every twenty-four hours in your life. Just as you allot time to eating, sleeping, and business, so also allot time to prayer. Choose your own hours and seasons. At the very least, speak with God in the morning, before you speak with the world: and speak with God at night, after you have done with the world. But settle it in your minds, that prayer is one of the great things of every day. Do not drive it into a corner. Do not give it the scraps and parings of your duty. Whatever else you make a business of, make a business of prayer. I commend to you the importance of perseverance in prayer. Once having begun the habit, never give it up. Your heart will sometimes say, “You have had family prayers: what mighty harm if you leave private prayer undone?” Your body will sometimes say, “You are unwell, or sleepy, or weary; you need not pray.” Your mind will sometimes say, “You have important business to attend to today; cut short your prayers.” Look on all such suggestions as coming direct from Satan. They are all as good as saying, “Neglect your soul.” I do not maintain that prayers should always be of the same length; but I do say, let no excuse make you give up prayer. Paul said, “Continue in prayer,” and, “Pray without ceasing.” He did not mean that men should be always on their knees, but he did mean that our prayers should be, like the continual burnt offering, steadily persevered in every day; that it should be like seed time and harvest, and summer and winter, unceasingly coming round at regular seasons; that it should be like the fire on the altar, not always consuming sacrifices, but never completely going out. Never forget that you may tie together morning and evening devotions, by an endless chain of short ejaculatory prayers throughout the day. Even in company, or business, or in the very streets, you may be silently sending up little winged messengers to God, as Nehemiah did in the very presence of Artaxerxes. And never think that time is wasted which is given to God. A nation does not become poorer because it loses one year of working days in seven, by keeping the Sabbath. A Christian never finds he is a loser, in the long run, by persevering in prayer. Attitude
I commend to you the importance of earnestness in prayer. It is not necessary that a man should shout, or scream, or be very loud, in order to prove that he is in earnest. But it is desirable that we should be hearty and fervent and warm, and ask as if we were really interested in what we were doing. It is the
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“effectual fervent” prayer that “availeth much.” This is the lesson that is taught us by the expressions used in Scripture about prayer: it is called, “crying, knocking, wrestling, laboring, striving.” This is the lesson taught us by scripture examples. Jacob is one. He said to the angel at Penuel, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Gen. 32:26). Daniel is another. Hear how he pleaded with God: “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God” (Dan. 9:19). Our Lord Jesus Christ is another. It is written of him, “In the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears” (Heb. 5:7). Alas, how unlike is this to many of our supplications! How tame and lukewarm they seem by comparison. How truly might God say to many of us, “You do not really want what you pray for.” Let us try to amend this fault. Let us knock loudly at the door of grace, Like Mercy in Pilgrim’s Progress, as if we must perish unless heard. Let us settle it in our minds, that cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire. Let us remember the story of Demosthenes the great orator, when one came to him, and wanted him to plead his cause. He heard him without attention, while he told his story without earnestness. The man saw this, and cried out with anxiety that it was all true. “Ah,” said Demosthenes, “I believe you now.” I commend to you the importance of praying with faith. We should endeavor to believe that our prayers are heard, and that if we ask things according to God’s will, we shall be answered. This is the plain command of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). Faith is to prayer what the feather is to the arrow: without it prayer will not hit the mark. We should cultivate the habit of pleading promises in our prayers. We should take with us some promise, and say, “Lord, here is thine own word pledged. Do for us as thou hast said.” This was the habit of Jacob and Moses and David. The 119th Psalm is full of things asked, “according to thy word.” Above all, we should cultivate the habit of expecting answers to our prayers. We should do like the merchant who sends his ships to sea. We should not be satisfied, unless we see some return. Alas, there are few points on which Christians come short so much as this. The church at Jerusalem made prayer without ceasing for Peter in prison; but when the prayer was answered, they would hardly believe it (Acts 12:15). It is a solemn saying of Traill, “There is no surer mark of trifling in prayer, than when men are careless what they get by prayer.” I commend to you the importance of boldness in prayer. There is an unseemly familiarity in some men’s prayers which I cannot praise. But there is such a thing as a holy boldness, which is exceedingly to be desired. I mean such boldness as that of Moses, when he pleads with God not to destroy Israel “Wherefore,” says he, “should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains? Turn from thy fierce anger” (Exod. 32:12). I mean such boldness as that of Joshua, when the children of Israel were defeated before men of Ai: “What,” says he, “wilt thou do unto thy great name?” (Josh. 7:9). This is the boldness for which Luther was remarkable. One who heard him praying said, “What a spirit, what a confidence was in his very expressions. With such a reverence he sued, as one begging of God, and yet with such hope and assurance, as if he spoke with a loving father or friend.” This is the boldness which distinguished Bruce, a great Scotch divine of the seventeenth century. His prayers were said to be “like bolts shot up into heaven.” Here also I fear we sadly come short. We do not sufficiently realize the believer’s privileges. We do not plead as often as we might, “Lord, are we not thine own people? Is it not for thy glory that we should be sanctified? Is it not for thy honor that thy gospel should increase?” Asking
I commend to you the importance of fullness in prayer. I do not forget that our Lord warns us against the example of the Pharisees, who, for pretense, made long prayers; and commands us when we pray not to use vain repetitions. But I cannot forget, on the other hand, that he has given his own sanction to large and long devotions by continuing all night in prayer to God. At all events, we are not likely in this day to err on the side of praying too much. Might it not rather be feared that many believers in this generation pray too little? Is not the actual amount of time that many Christians give to prayer, in the aggregate, very small? I am afraid these questions cannot be answered satisfactorily. I am afraid the private devotions of
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many are most painfully scanty and limited; just enough to prove they are alive and no more. They really seem to want little from God. They seem to have little to confess, little to ask for, and little to thank him for. Alas, this is altogether wrong. Nothing is more common than to hear believers complaining that they do not get on. They tell us that they do not grow in grace as they could desire. Is it not rather to be suspected that many have quite as much grace as they ask for? Is it not the true account of many, that they have little, because they ask little? The cause of their weakness is to be found in their own stunted, dwarfish, clipped, contracted, hurried, narrow, diminutive prayers. They have not, because they ask not. Oh, we are not straitened in Christ, but in ourselves. The Lord says, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” But we are like the King of Israel who smote on the ground thrice and stayed, when he ought to have smitten five or six times. I commend to you the importance of particularity in prayer. We ought not to be content with great general petitions. We ought to specify our wants before the throne of grace. It should not be enough to confess we are sinners: we should name the sins of which our conscience tells us we are most guilty. It should not be enough to ask for holiness; we should name the graces in which we feel most deficient. It should not be enough to tell the Lord we are in trouble; we should describe our trouble and all its peculiarities. This is what Jacob did when he feared his brother Esau. He tells God exactly what it is that he fears (Gen. 32:11). This is what Eliezer did, when he sought a wife for his master’s son. He spreads before God precisely what he wants (Gen. 24:12). This is what Paul did when he had a thorn in the flesh. He besought the Lord (II Cor. 12:8). This is true faith and confidence. We should believe that nothing is too small to be named before God. What should we think of the patient who told his doctor he was ill, but never went into particulars? What should we think of the wife who told her husband she was unhappy, but did not specify the cause? What should we think of the child who told his father he was in trouble, but nothing more? Christ is the true bridegroom of the soul, the true physician of the heart, the real father of all his people. Let us show that we feel this by being unreserved in our communications with him. Let us hide no secrets from him. Let us tell him all our hearts. I commend to you the importance of intercession in our prayers. We are all selfish by nature, and our selfishness is very apt to stick to us, even when we are converted. There is a tendency in us to think only of our own souls, our own spiritual conflicts, our own progress in religion, and to forget others. Against this tendency we all have need to watch and strive, and not least in our prayers. We should study to be of a public spirit. We should stir ourselves up to name other names besides our own before the throne of grace. We should try to bear in our hearts the whole world, the heathen, the Jews, the Roman Catholics, the body of true believers, the professing Protestant churches, the country in which we live, the congregation to which we belong, the household in which we sojourn, the friends and relations we are connected with. For each and all of these we should plead. This is the highest charity. He loves me best who loves me in his prayers. This is for our soul’s health. It enlarges our sympathies and expands our hearts. This is for the benefit of the church. The wheels of all machinery for extending the gospel are moved by prayer. They do as much for the Lord’s cause who intercede like Moses on the mount, as they do who fight like Joshua in the thick of the battle. This is to be like Christ. He bears the names of his people, as their High Priest, before the Father. Oh, the privilege of being like Jesus! This is to be a true helper to ministers. If I must choose a congregation, give me a people that pray. Thanksgiving
I commend to you the importance of thankfulness in prayer. I know well that asking God is one thing and praising God is another. But I see so close a connection between prayer and praise in the Bible, that I dare not call that true prayer in which thankfulness has no part. It is not for nothing that Paul says, “By prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). It is of mercy that we are not in hell. It is of mercy that we have the hope of heaven. It is of mercy that we live in a land of spiritual light. It is of mercy that we have been called by the Spirit, and not left to reap the fruit of our own ways. It is of
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mercy that we still live and have opportunities of glorifying God actively or passively. Surely these thoughts should crowd on our minds whenever we speak with God. Surely we should never open our lips in prayer without blessing God for that free grace by which we live, and for that loving kindness which endureth for ever. Never was there an eminent saint who was not full of thankfulness. St. Paul hardly ever writes an epistle without beginning with thankfulness. Men like Whitefield in the last century, and Bickersteth in our time, abounded in thankfulness. Oh, reader, if we would be bright and shining lights in our day, we must cherish a spirit of praise. Let our prayers be thankful prayers. On guard
I commend to you the importance of watchfulness over your prayers. Prayer is that point in religion at which you must be most of all on your guard. Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes, and here it decays. Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul. Prayer is the spiritual pulse. By this the spiritual health may be tested. Prayer is the spiritual weather-glass. By this we may know whether it is fair or foul with our hearts. Oh, let us keep an eye continually upon our private devotions. Here is the pith and marrow of our practical Christianity. Sermons and books and tracts, and committee meetings and the company of good men, are all good in their way, but they will never make up for the neglect of private prayer. Mark well the places and society and companions that unhinge your hearts for communion with God and make your prayers drive heavily. There be on your guard. Observe narrowly what friends and what employments leave your soul in the most spiritual frame, and most ready to speak with God. To these cleave and stick fast. If you will take care of your prayers, nothing shall go very wrong with your soul. I offer these points for your private consideration. I do it in all humility. I know no one who needs to be reminded of them more than I do myself. But I believe them to be God’s own truth, and I desire myself and all I love to feel them more. I want the times we live in to be praying times. I want the Christians of our day to be praying Christians. I want the church to be a praying church. My heart’s desire and prayer in sending forth this tract is to promote a spirit of prayerfulness. I want those who never prayed yet, to arise and call upon God, and I want those who do pray, to see that they are not praying amiss. “Men ought always to pray” - Luke 18:1
Study Questions: Lesson 9 First please read chapter 9 in the text. The struggle 1. Why is it that we often feel our own prayers are unworthy? Position 2. Why are reverence and humility important in our prayers? 3. a. What does it mean to pray spiritually? b. Why is this important? 4. Why is cold, formal prayer to be avoided? Practice 5. Why is it important to make prayer a regular part of your life? 6. a. What are three common reasons to skip praying, which come directly from the enemy? b. Which of these have you experienced personally? 7. The apostle Paul said “Continue in prayer” and “Pray without ceasing” (Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
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How are we to do this practically, in the midst of busy days? Attitude 8. What is meant by earnestness in prayer? 9. a. What does it mean to pray with faith? b. In our praying, how can we increase faith? 10. How is godly boldness in prayer different from an unseemly familiarity? Asking 11. a. What is fullness in prayer? b. What is the longest you have ever prayed? 12. Why is particularity in prayer so important? 13. a. What problem hinders intercession in our prayers? b. How can we remedy this problem? Thanksgiving 14. What do we have to be thankful for in our prayers? On Guard 15. Why is it extremely important that you be watchful over your prayers? 16. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 9, “Counsel to the Saints.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “Counsel to the Saints.” a. Daniel 10:12 b. Ephesians 6:10-13,18 c. 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 d. Deuteronomy 4:29 e. Isaiah 26:8-9
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Part II Times of Refreshing by L. R. Shelton, Jr.
Lesson 10 The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit Times of Refreshing Chapter 1 Refreshing of His blessing
Revival: What does it mean? Peter tells us in Acts 3:19 that it is a “time of refreshing... from the presence of the Lord,” a time when God visits us with a refreshing of His blessings, by reviving the hearts of His people and convicting and regenerating precious lost souls. Most of us will agree that today we need a definite, positive refreshing from the presence of the Lord. I know, without the shadow of a doubt, without the Spirit of God being poured out upon us as water upon the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, we can do nothing. Without the Spirit of God we are as ships with no wind for our sails, as branches with no sap to give life, as coals with no fire. Truly, without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). And when the Lord begins to pour out His Spirit, there will be times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The hearts of God’s people will be revived, prayer will be finding its way to the throne of God’s eternal grace, and God’s people, like Jacob of old, will wrestle with Him and will not be denied until they receive the blessings from on high. When God pours out His Spirit as floods upon dry ground, sinners will be convicted and brought guilty before the triune God; they will be made to turn to God from their sins. Cries of repentance will go up to God, hearts will be broken, homes will be made over, whole communities will be stirred, and sinners will be delivered by the power of God. They will be taken out of the kingdom of Satan and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light in the Lord Jesus Christ. When God begins to pour, His people will become very fervent for the truth. They will be fearless and bold as they are filled with the Spirit of the living God, and none of Satan’s strongholds will be able to stand before them all the days of their lives. Yes, when the Spirit of God is poured out upon us in times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, our petty differences will be put away, love will be manifested, our lives will be changed, and that holy boldness of our God against sin will be upon us. The world will also take note that we have been with the Lord Jesus Christ. You may ask, “Will God do this for us? Will He yet return and be gracious? Will He yet revive His work in the midst of the years? Will He yet in wrath remember mercy?” Yes, I firmly believe in my soul that God has given us a very special and precious promise for our times and our lives, and that He can and will fulfill His precious Word to our hearts by giving good things to them that ask. Isaiah 44:3-5
His promise is found in Isaiah 44:3-5: “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring; and they shall
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spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” This is a precious promise, a great promise, given to us by the One who cannot lie, the eternal, triune God Himself. Yes, He says... the sovereign God of the universe says, “I will,” and when He says “I will,” you can rest assured that we shall. That’s what the promise says, with no “if,” “and,” “maybe so,” or “but” about it: They shall say, “I am the Lord’s.” Yes, when God wills, then we shall-we have the word of Him Who cannot lie! Christ said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me” (John 6:37). Why will they come? Because the Father willed it. In another place we read that Christ shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11). Why shall He see of the travail of His soul? Because the Father willed it. So it is in our text: “I will pour... and they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses... [and] shall say, I am the Lord’s.” This is a promise for us to lay hold of, one of the unconditional promises of God’s Word. Plead this promise before the One who cannot lie, for times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. My sinner friend, you cannot stand before the potent gale of God’s Holy Spirit. My atheistic friend, my agnostic friend, my unbelieving friend, you are no hard case with God. If, at this very moment, the Lord pours out His Spirit upon you-which I am trusting He will do-you will fall down upon your knees, crying unto God to be merciful to you, a sinner. My church friend, you are no hard case with God. You who are eaten up with the sin of lust, with the unbelief of your heart and the wickedness of your mind, you are no hard case with God! My God is able to save. My God is able to deliver, and when He pours His Spirit upon your barren, dry heart, you will be made to live in the Lord Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses and washes whiter than snow. His power breaks your heart; His love makes you understand what your sins have done to Him, and then you will cry for mercy and say, “I am the Lord’s.” You wives and mothers, will you hear this promise? “God will pour.” Here is the promise; plead it for your husbands and children, for herein lies our hope: “God will pour.” Here is the promise; put your finger on it and tell God about it. Plead it before His throne of grace, and then believingly expect Him to do what He said He will do. As Isaiah 43:26 tells us: put God in remembrance of the promise and do not let Him go until He has fulfilled His Word. A Broad Promise
Notice another thing about this promise: it is very liberal, very broad. For the Lord whom I serve, the God of the Bible, is not like man; my heavenly Father gives exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Do you not know that when the Lord gives a blessing, He gives like a king, for truly He is the King? He doesn’t give as man gives-grudgingly. He gives liberally, out of a heart of love. It would not exhaust nor diminish His treasure to pour out abundantly upon a hundred thousand souls today. He is God, and beside Him there is none else (Isaiah 45:21-22). He says, “I will pour.” He did not say,” I will sprinkle” or “I will give a few bucketfuls”! But He says, “I will pour”-not only water upon him that is thirsty, but “floods upon the dry ground.” He is going to open up the very reservoir of heaven and pour down into our souls, that where sin abounds, grace will much more abound. He is going to pour such a volume that all unbelief will be swept away, all our prejudice will become a thing of the past, and we will be swept into His kingdom with broken hearts and broken spirits. Nothing will be able to stand before this flood. Come now, look at the promise with me; don’t limit the Holy One of Israel! Look at all its breadth and length and see that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. Remember, when God sends the rain from heaven, He does not ask us if we want it; He just sends it. He does not stop to ask any earthly monarch if he is ready for the snow to fall or the winds to blow or the tornadoes to come; He sends them. So it is when He pours out His Spirit. He does not ask us if we want to be broken, but He pours out His Holy Spirit upon us and makes us willing in the day of His power. When He comes, He will work effectually; He will break the stony heart; He will give conviction; He will grant repentance; He will give faith to lay hold of the Lord Jesus, the only Substitute for sinners.
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This is our hope, hope in our sovereign God who works all things after the counsel of His own will, who wills to pour His Spirit out in refreshing from His presence. Notice that this promise also includes our children. Oh, how great is our God that He does not leave out our offspring! He says, “I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Look at it! “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). Here is a promise, believer, that God will not deny us. Let us try Him and prove Him. He cannot lie; He will not send us away empty handed. Let us bring this promise with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and plead it for our children and our loved ones. We will surely hear Him say, “Go in peace, I have heard your cry; as you have asked, so shall you receive.” When the Spirit of God is poured out upon you as water upon the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground, and you are delivered by God’s grace, the power of sin is broken in your heart and life, and you are made a new creature in the Lord Jesus Christ. You will then be bold in the Lord, for the Scripture says, “One shall say, I am the Lord’s.” Yes, you’ll cry, “The Lord is mine, I am His, and I will not be ashamed of what the Lord Jesus has done for my never-dying soul.” There will be a holy boldness to stand and witness of God’s saving grace. There will be a holy confidence and assurance in your soul that your sins have been washed away, that you stand justified before God only in Christ, and that the precious righteousness of the Lord Jesus has been imputed to your account. What will be the result of such a promise? When this promise is fulfilled, there will be the reviving of the children of God. The spirit of prayer and supplication will be upon us. Our spirits will be fervent in intercession, and we shall see the enlargement of the work of the Lord upon the earth as many souls are brought into Christ. When God’s Spirit is poured out from His presence, it will first affect His people.
Study Questions: Lesson 10 First please read chapter 1 in the text “Times of Refreshing.” Refreshing of His blessings 1. a. What is revival? b. In your own opinion, why do we need revival? 2. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in revival? 3. What are the three results of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in revival? Isaiah 44:3-5 4. In your own words, describe the important promise given in Isaiah 44:3-5. A liberal and broad promise 5. “About this promise: it is very liberal, very broad.” a. In what ways is this promise “liberal and broad”? b. What does this abundance of God’s provision mean to you personally? 6. What will be the result of the promise contained in Isaiah 44:3-5? 7. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 1: “The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.” a. Ezekiel 36:25-27 b. John 14:15-18
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Lesson 11 Intercessory Prayer: Its Necessity and Urgency Times of Refreshing Chapter 2 Prayers of Intercession
One of the first evidences of a spiritual awakening and a new refreshing from the presence of the Lord will be that God’s people will begin to pray with that definite, confident assurance that their God will hear and answer their prayers of intercession. It has always been true down though the ages that when God began to pour, the first result was the cry of His people unto Him for the deliverance of the dead souls around them, or intercessory prayer. The relationship between prayer and heaven, prayer and God’s purpose for the sons of men, will only be fully understood when we reach heaven, but the Bible speaks much of prayer and its place in God’s economy. If we were all honest before God, we would confess that prayer, real intercessory prayer, is something which most of us know little about, and yet God speaks much about it. Most of us would admit that we “say our prayers,” perhaps before each meal or at some set time during the day; but where is the praying one who intercedes for others, who is used of God to pray down blessings upon others? Perhaps there may be an earnestness in our Christian life in which there is enough prayer to keep us from going back, maintaining the position we have attained but without much growth in spirituality or Christlikeness. But where is the prayer of intercession? If there is to be a large experience of God’s power to sanctify ourselves and to bring down real blessings on others, there must be more definite and persevering prayer. The Scriptures teach this very forcibly, speaking of crying day and night, continuing steadfastly in prayer, watching unto prayer, being heard for our importunity. This must in some degree become our experience if we are really to be intercessors. Isaiah 66:8 and Luke 11
If we did not have such gracious promises for the encouraging of prayer, then perhaps there would be excuses we could offer, but the promises and examples are many in Scripture. Isaiah 66:8 tells us, “As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” “As soon as” means that when you and I begin to pray the real prayer of intercession, God begins to hear and to answer. The result will be the salvation of sinners, the edification of God’s people, and the bringing in of the kingdom of God as never before. “Travailed” is not a light word, for it means very hard work, toil, intense pain, agony; it is used mostly in connection with the labor-pains of childbirth. Thus we see one reason why so very few people enter into the work of intercession, because it means hard work, something that is going to cost us something: intense pain and agony. Yet, if we do not enter into it, we are not going to see the blessings of God upon us, nor enter into the work that God has called us to do in His kingdom. God is looking today for intercessors; He is looking for the person or group who will enter into the arena with Him and pray for the souls of men. In Luke 11 we read, “As [Christ] was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray.” After giving them the model prayer, He proceeded to give them instructions concerning the matter of intercessory prayer: “Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
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Here our Lord teaches us persistence in prayer. He uses the word “importunity” in regard to our praying. Like the word “travail,” it is not a light word. It means to pray with urgency, to pray refusing to be denied, to pray with a persistent attitude that will not let go until the blessing comes, until the blessing is received for your friend, loved one, or even your enemy. In regard to intercessory prayer
There is in this example several things for us to understand in regard to intercessory prayer. There was (1) an urgent need. Here is where intercession begins: the friend came at midnight. Always the need comes at an untimely hour for our flesh, but here was a need. The friend was hungry and could not buy bread. If you and I are to pray aright and enter into the work of prayer with the Lord, we must open our eyes and our hearts to the need of those around us. And the needs are great, lost souls are everywhere. Christless souls are in darkness, perishing of hunger, and we have bread enough and to spare. Wickedness is abounding all around us: apathy of so-called Christians, a lack of a missionary spirit, Christless preachers, teachers and workers-yes, everywhere the need abounds. If we are to pray aright, we must feel (2) compassionate love toward others. The friend took his weary, hungry friend into his house and his heart. He did not excuse himself by saying he had no bread; he gave himself at midnight to seek it for him. He sacrificed his night’s rest, his comfort, to find the needed bread. We need to understand that love “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). It is the very nature of love to give up and forget self for the sake of others. Love takes others’ needs and makes them her own. Love finds real joy in living and dying for others as Christ did. It is the love of a mother for her prodigal son that makes her pray for him. True love for souls will become the spirit of intercession in us. True love must pray! If we would be delivered from the sin of restraining prayer, we must enlarge our hearts for the work of intercession. To be praying constantly for ourselves will end in failure; it is in intercession for others that our faith and love and perseverance will be aroused and the power of the Holy Spirit will be found to enable us to follow in the footsteps of our blessed Lord. Next, note the (3) sense of impotence and helplessness in intercessory prayer. A mother might be willing to give her life for her dying child, and yet not be able to save it. The friend at midnight was willing to give his guest bread, but he had none to give. It was this sense of impotence, or his inability to help, that sent him begging: “My friend is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.” It is this sense of our impotence that is the very strength of intercession, for it will drive us to our knees to plead with the only One who can help us, the Lord of glory Himself. “...I have nothing to set before him.” I may have knowledge and truth, a loving heart, and the readiness to give myself for my friend, but the Bread of Heaven I cannot give him. Oh, that this would grip us: “I have nothing”! May this ring in our hearts and drive us to the One Who has everything for the souls of men. As we point them to Christ, let us go to Christ and urge their need upon Him. Let me repeat it: the sense of our helplessness, our impotency, is the soul of intercession. See the (4) faith in prayer! What one man did not have, another could supply. He had a rich friend nearby who would be both able and willing to give the bread. He was sure that if he only asked, he would receive. This faith made him leave his home at midnight; if he had not the bread himself to give, he could ask another. This is simple, confident faith, that God will give what we need. The Scriptures reveal that God is waiting, delighting to bestow His heavenly blessings in answer to prayer. A thousand and one are the promises and testimonies that call us to believe that prayer will be heard, that what we cannot possibly do ourselves for those whom we want to help can be gained by prayer. Observe that (5) importunity prevails! The faith of the friend met a sudden and unexpected setback: the rich friend refused to hear: “I cannot rise and give thee.” The loving heart had not counted on this disappointment; he could not accept it. The supplicant presses his plea: “Here is my needy friend, you have an abundance, I am your friend.” He refuses to accept a denial. The love that opened his house at midnight, and then left it to seek help, must win out. So many times the very ones we pray for go deeper into sin, turn on us, laugh us to scorn, and have no regard for God or His Christ; we are left to wonder what is the use of praying, for they only get worse.
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But blessed is the man or woman who is not staggered by God’s delay or His silence or apparent refusal, or the sinner’s hardened condition, but is strong in faith, giving glory to God. Such faith perseveres importunately, if need be, and cannot fail to inherit the blessing. Look at these words: “I say unto you... he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” Our Lord here gives us the greatest reason for praying: We shall have an answer! “I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Luke 11:8-9). Ask, and keep on asking; seek, and keep on seeking; knock, and keep on knocking. Blessed Lord, teach us to pray; teach us to forget self and to intercede for others! Give us your grace to enter into the work of intercession with You, O God.
Study Questions: Lesson 11 First please read chapter 2 in the text “Times of Refreshing.” Prayers of intercession 1. How is intercessory prayer defined? 2. How is just “saying our prayers” different from intercessory prayer? Isaiah 66:8 and Luke 11 3. What does travailed mean regarding prayer? 4. What did Jesus teach us about importunity in intercessory prayer in Luke 11:5-8? In regard to intercessory prayer 5. What five points are listed and explained regarding intercessory prayer? Please list them. 6. Do you sense personally an urgent internal need to pray (point one)? Why or why not? 7. Why is a sense of helplessness important in prayer (point three)? 8. How is the simple act of asking another an expression of faith in prayer (point four)? 9. a. What is meant by importunity (point five)? b. Why does “importunity prevail”? 10. a. Have you ever been discouraged by having no answer to your prayers, or by seeing those you are praying for continue to be uninterested or hostile? b. What is the answer given for such discouragement? 11. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 2: “Intercessory Prayer: Its Necessity and Urgency.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “Intercessory Prayer.” a. 1 Timothy 2:1 b. Romans 15:30 c. Romans 8:26-27 d. 2 Timothy 1:3
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Lesson 12 Asking with Definite Need and Assurance of the Answer Times of Refreshing Chapter 3 Our prayers will be answered
In setting before us the spirit and purpose of prayer, our blessed Lord assures us of the certainty that our prayers will be answered. He tells us in Luke 11:9-13: “I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Here our Lord wants to teach us what in all Scripture is considered the greatest thing in prayer: the assurance that prayer will be heard and answered. One thing is sure, and the Lord wants us to count on it: asking, seeking and knocking cannot be in vain. The opened heart and love of God are the certain fruit of prayer. We see also that prayer consists of two parts, human and divine. The human part is the asking; the divine part is the giving. This has always been God’s way and always will be-asking and receiving. Our asking must be definite
Our asking must be definite; our prayers must not be a vague appeal to God’s mercy, an indefinite cry for blessing, but the distinct expression of a definite need. When blind Bartimaeus was brought to our Lord and had cried to the Lord for mercy (Mark 10:51), Jesus said unto him, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Notice that he had a definite plea, a definite need, that he might receive his sight. Then listen to the answer of our blessed Lord (v. 52): “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Yes, a definite need must send us to Christ, and there at His throne of grace we can spread it all out before Him, knowing that He hears us and will answer us. This truth is brought out again in Hebrews 4:15-16: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;... Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” To encourage our hearts to pray, to seek His face and call upon His name with definite needs, He gives us these words in 1 John 5:14-15: “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” The need of our children
I direct this message towards parents especially, including myself, that we would carry the need of our children unto the Lord in prayer. Concern for our children and their walking in the truth as it is Christ Jesus should drive us to intercessory prayer, praying with definite need and request for their salvation. Let us use 3 John 4 as a starting point. There we read of the apostle John saying, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” What a word! This should bind our hearts together in prayer, praying that we may have this greatest of joys, to hear, to see, to know that our children are saved and walking in the truth of God’s Word. Do we take joy in the fact that they are walking in health, yet have no concern that they walk in the leprosy of sin? Do we take joy in the fact that they make good grades in
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school, show cleverness in their work and play, or that they are sharp in business, getting along well in the world, are fitted for the toils and tasks of this life, and are happily married? Is this the only joy we have? Do we have no concern for the renewing of their blackened nature, or that they are not safe in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is it true that though our sons and daughters show no sign of the new birth, give no evidence of being rich toward God, manifest no traces of electing love or redeeming grace, or the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, we as parents are content with their condition? Let’s examine ourselves! Are we content that our children are not saved? Let this text search our hearts: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” May these words come home to our hearts, that the greatest joy is to see not only our own souls safe in Christ, but the precious souls of our children. May this sense of need send us to our closets today, and there before God intercede in prayer for the souls of our children. Let us plead the promises of God’s Word; let us cry day and night until we see our children walking in the truth in Christ! Do our children know the doctrine of the gospel? Do we as parents see that they sit under a Godhonoring, God-fearing ministry, both at home and at church? These are definite objects of prayer to bring before our God, that our children would hear the Word of life. Do our children hear the truth that they may walk in it by God’s grace? They must first hear it before they can learn it and walk in it. This also is grounds for prayer, a definite need to bring to our Great High Priest at His throne of grace: “O Lord my God, cause my children to hear the truth of Thy Word that is able to make them wise unto salvation!” Have we taught our children the holiness of God, the deep depravity of their hearts by nature? Do they know something of their sinner-ship? Without this knowledge, they will not and cannot be saved and walk in the truth. Have we taught them their deep need of the righteousness that God requires, which can only be found in Christ? Knowing their awful condition outside of Christ, do they understand the great need of Christ’s becoming what we are, that we may become what He is? He could only save us if He Himself died in our place and became in the sight of God what we are: sin. And only then could we become what He is: perfect righteousness before God. Oh, that this definite need would lead us to the throne of grace, crying unto our living God that He would by His Spirit reveal Christ in all His glory unto our children, out of His Word! Pray and pray again that they will see that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; that Christ is the gospel-His work for us in substitution. This should be our great joy: to know that our children know these precious truths of God’s Word and walk in the experiential knowledge and joy of these truths. Oh, to hear them say: “I am of the Lord”! To hear them say, “Mother, Dad, I trust by the grace of God that Christ is mine, and that I am saved by the grace of God and have been made a new creature in Christ”! Why does the salvation of the souls of our precious children rejoice our hearts? Because we have made it a subject of importunate prayer. If we have asked for their souls in tears, we shall rejoice greater when they say, “I am of the Lord.” If our hearts have been broken over their sinfulness, their stubbornness, their rebellion, their unbelief, their unconcern, their far distance from a holy God, then surely we shall weep with joy when our prayers are heard and they come home to Christ, praising Him for saving their neverdying souls. No wonder Hannah sang so sweetly after the birth of Samuel, because she had prayed so earnestly and the Lord had heard her. The joy of the answer was increased by the former anguish of her prayer. Will He hear?
You may be asking the question, “Pastor, will He hear my importunate cry?” He heard the cry of the woman of Canaan who came praying for her demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15). This mother overcame every difficulty and would not let go. She cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” She pressed in with her one petition, even though at first she was not answered; the disciples wanted to send her away; she was told that Christ was sent
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only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and she was even called a dog. Still, she pressed in with her one petition: “Lord, have mercy upon my daughter.” And she went home with the victory, for she had the Word of the Lord Himself: “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Will He hear your cry and mine for our children? Yes, He will. Did He not hear the cry of Jairus for his daughter (Mark 5), the cry of the father for his lunatic son (Mark 9), the cry of the nobleman for his sick son (John 4)? Surely He did; and if our God was pleased to hear and answer their prayers, surely He will answer ours. Let us press on in! Are we content to let them go to hell? If not, then let us press in by faith, crying, “Oh, my heavenly Father, I beseech Thee in the name of Christ Jesus my Lord and Thy precious Son, look in favor upon my household, my children; save them for Thy name’s sake. I cannot bear that any of my children should choose to remain Thine enemies and continue on the road to hell. Lord, let my whole household eat of the Pascal Lamb, let them all come out of Egypt, through Thy grace. I can’t leave one of them out. No, Lord, I cannot see them die; spare them, I pray Thee; O look upon them in mercy, for Thou art a merciful God. Remember them for Christ’s sake.” Cry aloud; wrestle like Jacob, for He will hear! “I will not let Thee go except Thou bless my children, every one of them. Their unregenerate state is my deepest sorrow; for Christ’s sake, for His glory, be pleased to save them and to deliver them from going down to the pit.”
Study Questions: Lesson 12 First please read chapter 3 in the text “Times of Refreshing.” Our prayers will be answered 1. What lesson do we learn in Luke 11:9-13? 2. a. What two things constitute the certain fruit of prayer? [What two things are returned to us when we pray to God?] b. What impact should this have on your personal prayers: the fact that God returns these things to us, versus His being cold, uncaring, and impersonal. 3. Describe the two parts of which prayer consists. Our asking must be definite 4. Why must our prayers be definite (ie, specific)? The need of our children 5. Do you have children? If so, what is your response to the author’s exhortations 1) to pray for their salvation, and 2) to teach them without ceasing for their spiritual progress? 6. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 3: “Asking with Definite Need and Assurance of the Answer.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “Asking with Definite Need and Assurance of the Answer.” a. James 1:5-8 b. Mark 11:22-24
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Lesson 13 God Beckons Us to Pray Times of Refreshing Chapter 4 Restraint of prayer
Prayer, I believe, is the most needed thing in this hour by God’s children, for I believe it is the restraint of prayer that keeps the “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord” from coming. The Holy Spirit of supplication has been grieved, and there needs to be a turning back unto the Lord in full confession and forsaking of our own prayerlessness. Our prayer again should be, “Lord, teach me to pray; give me by Thy Spirit the grace of supplication that I may pray in the Spirit and be used in the ministry of intercession.” Yes, the great need today is prayer, and our Lord has certainly given us great encouragement to pray. He says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22). “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee” (Psalm 50:15). “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). “Continue in prayer” (Colossians 4:2). “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke18:1). “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). He always causes us to triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). Are not all these verses of Scripture great encouragements to pray and seek the face of our living God in Christ? In Christ Jesus
Prayer is the heart going out to the living God in Christ Jesus. It is He who has opened the door of access to the throne of grace. It is He who bids us come and cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for us. It is He who bids us have no anxious moments, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make our requests known unto the Father by Him. It is He who bids us come by the new and living way which He has consecrated for us, into the very holiest of all by His precious blood, which was shed for the remission of our sins. We have in Him a great High Priest, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He was made like His brethren in all things, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, making reconciliation for the sins of His people. He bids us come into His courts with gladness, for we are coming into the presence of our King. We come into the presence of Him who is waiting to hear our voice and see our face, and stands ready to answer our prayers. So let us come to Him! To me, the greatest privilege in the world is to call upon the name of my living God, to tell Him all that is on my heart. This is a privilege-not a duty, not a yoke of bondage-but a blessed privilege, to lay all my needs at His feet and call upon His name for others. God’s nature and character
When you look at prayer in the light of Jeremiah 33:3-“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”-then you know that it is His very nature in Christ Jesus to answer our prayers. Our God has revealed Himself in the gospel as a God of love, full of grace and truth. How can He refuse to help those of His creatures who humbly, in God’s appointed way, seek
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His face and favor? He can’t, for we find in Scripture that it is His nature to receive me in Christ, for He is my refuge and hiding place. It is His nature to answer prayer, to bend His ear to hear our call. O that we would understand the nature of prayer and the nature of Him upon whom we call! We do not have to overcome His reluctance, for He delights to give us the desires of our hearts. He wants us to know that He willingly gives: “Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you” (Isaiah 30:18). In the expression “I will answer thee” (Jeremiah 33:3), we see that it is God’s character to answer prayer, for He gives us His Word in Romans 8:32: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Yes, He says He freely gives us all things in Christ. Why we don’t pray and ask more and expect more, I will never know. Here we have the very nature and character of our living God expressed in saying that if Christ is truly ours, then our God will freely give us all things in Christ. What a word! What an expression: “all things”! From the words “I will answer thee,” I can only take it that God means exactly what He says. My own experience leads me to believe that God will answer prayer. If no one else believes that, I do. I can boldly say that God answers prayer. Answered prayer is written upon every page of every day of my life. I have written “tried and proven” by Jeremiah 33:3. I can say that the God of the Bible, the God whom I serve, hears and answers prayer. He has not and will not put me to shame. He has answered my weakest cry, and I believe He will do so till I get to glory. May I urge you to pray. Set aside a certain time each day to call upon the name of the Lord. Enter into your secret closet, close the door, and pray to your living God in Christ. He will hear in secret and reward you openly. There tell Him what is on your heart. Remember, He is the Shepherd who watches over us, so tell Him your need. He is the Priest who represents us, so confess to Him your sins. He is the Friend who understands and comforts, so lay bare your heart. He is the Brother who cares for us, so tell Him your problems. He is the Savior who can save your friends and loved ones, so tell Him of them. He is the living God who has power to uphold us and supply all of our needs, so tell Him what is on your heart. He is the Lover of our souls, so let us tell Him we love Him and desire to be with Him. He is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; therefore, He sympathizes with us, so let us tell Him all about the things that trouble us. Tell Him your trouble, as the disciples of John the Baptist did when they went to Christ to inform Him that their teacher was beheaded. Tell Him your sorrow and grief, as Mary did when she went to Christ about the death of her brother, Lazarus. Tell Him your pain, as when Paul prayed about the thorn in the flesh. Tell Him your grief, as when the woman of Canaan cried to Christ about her demon-possessed daughter. Tell Him your joy, as when the disciples spoke of the demons they had cast out in His name. Tell Him your difficulty, as when the disciples asked to be taught how to pray. Tell Him the needs of His people, as Paul quoted over and over in his epistles. Tell Him of your lack of faith, your need for growth in grace, your desire to walk in righteousness and true holiness. Tell Him all that is upon your heart! We could go on and on, but this is enough to show that others have called upon His name in prayer and have been heard. So then I encourage you to pray, for He is listening. Tell Him all that is on your heart; tell Him often, tell Him always. Yes, tell Him now, for He cares, He knows, He loves, and He understands. In submission to God’s will
Now you understand a little of what a privilege prayer is, a blessed privilege, to come before His throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). But I must bring this before your hearts also: Prayer is always to be offered in submission to God’s will. When we say God hears prayer, we do not intend by this to mean He always gives us literally that for which we ask. We mean, however, that He gives us what is best for us, what is for our good. This is brought out in that blessed portion in 1 John 5:14-15: “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” Also, I must advise you that Psalm 66:18 tells us God will not hear our prayer if we regard sin in our life. It must be confessed and forsaken. Proverbs 28:9 tells us He will not hear if there is a turning away
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from His Word, if we do not hear and practice it. But if we come believing, confessing, repenting and humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God, then He will hear and turn our captivity into freedom and liberty in Christ. The question is often asked, “How do I learn to pray?” The only answer I have ever found is, Pray! Practice makes perfect. Pray and keep on praying. Pray in the morning, at noon and at night. Pray on the job, at school, in your home, and on the streets. Pray everywhere, over everything, and under every condition. Pray; pray and keep on praying; it is surely the work of a lifetime. Pray and watch God work. Start a prayer meeting in your home, your place of business, and see God work. Pray and keep on praying!
Study Questions: Lesson 13 First please read chapter 4 in the text “Times of Refreshing.” The restraint of prayer 1. a. What holds back the “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord”? b. Do you see this in your own life? c. When we are prayerless, what should our response be? Encouragement to pray 2. Please summarize in your own words: what is the overwhelming key point of the 15 scripture verses cited on page 16? In Christ Jesus 3. “Prayer is the heart going out to the living God in Christ Jesus.” (This is a wonderful definition of prayer.) Describe the role that Christ plays in our prayer life. God’s nature and character 4. What do we learn about prayer from Jeremiah 33:3? 5. Do you believe that God answers prayer? Why or why not? In submission to God’s will 6. Explain what it means that “Prayer is always to be offered in submission to God’s will.” 7. a. What obstacle will cause God not to hear our prayer? b. Write the key point from the following: - Psalm 66:18 - Proverbs 28:9. 8. How do we learn how to pray? 9. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 4: “God Beckons Us to Pray.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “God Beckons Us to Pray.” a. Isaiah 43:25-26 b. Hosea 10:12 c. John 4:23
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Lesson 14 The Grounds of Our Confidence Times of Refreshing Chapter 5 God hears prayer
Truly the Bible teaches that our Sovereign God in Christ hears and answers prayer: “Therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you... blessed are all they that wait for Him.... He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee” (Isaiah 30:18-19). What a blessed encouragement we have here to pray! He waits to be gracious. When He hears the voice of our cry, He will answer us! With this encouragement, how willing we should be to enter into our closet, shut the door, and pray to our Father which is in secret, knowing that our heavenly Father will see us in this secret place of prayer and will reward us openly. He will hear and answer prayer. Psalm 4:3 reads, “The LORD will hear when I call unto Him.” Does this not correspond with what our Lord taught us in Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it shall be given you”? What a blessed privilege, then, is prayer, asking and receiving! My God hears and answers prayer. The psalmist said, “I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God” (Psalm 17:6). What a blessed truth is this: My God will hear me! The power of prayer rests in the faith that God hears. It is this faith that gives a man courage to pray and power to prevail with God. You see, dear friend, the moment I am assured that God hears me, then I feel drawn to pray and persevere in prayer. I feel strong to claim and to take in faith the answer God gives. One great reason for the lack of prayer is the lack of a living, joyous assurance that “my God will hear me.” If we who claim to know our living God in Christ ever understand that He is waiting to grant our requests and bestow upon us all the heavenly gifts of the Spirit of which we are in need, I believe we would set everything aside to make time for this greatest of all blessings, the prayer of faith. When I meditate upon this precious statement, “My God will hear me,” I can only bow at His feet, crying, “What wondrous grace!” Think of it, dear brother, dear sister in Christ! Think of it and take courage and hope, to pray on in the Spirit. My dear seeking soul, if you do not yet have full assurance of faith, think of it: “My God will hear me!” Think of God in His infinite majesty, glory, and holiness, sitting upon a throne of grace, waiting to be gracious, inviting, encouraging you to pray with His promise, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.” Think of yourself in your nothingness and helplessness as a creature, in your wretchedness and transgressions as a sinner, in your feebleness and unworthiness as a saint, and praise the glory of that grace which allows you and me to say boldly, “My God will hear me!” Think again of how you are not left to yourself in prayer; God has invited you to be co-laborers with Christ. In Him and in His name you can have confidence. On the throne He prays with you and for you; on the footstool before the throne you pray with Him and in Him. Think of what you can accomplish in this wonderful fellowship with God in prayer! Oh, what grace this is! In the Son’s name, in His worth, and in the Father’s delight in hearing Him-these are indeed the grounds of our confidence and assurance of being heard. “The Spirit also helpeth”
And if this is not enough to encourage our hearts to the ministry of prayer and supplication, Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” What a blessed truth this is! The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God’s own Son, is sent into your heart to cry, “Abba, Father,” and to be in you a Spirit of supplication when you
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do not know how to pray as you ought! Think of all your insignificance and unworthiness, and yet your being as acceptable to the Father as Christ Himself! Knowing all your ignorance and feebleness, think of the Spirit making intercession according to the will of God within you, and cry out, “What wondrous grace! Through Christ I have access to the Father by the Spirit. I can, I do believe it: My God will hear me!” Oh, what a blessing is prayer! What a privilege our living God has given us, that we should be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto Him, and then the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7)! According to the will of God
By praying according to the will of God, we have the assurance that He hears us and we have the petitions that we desire of Him. Let us look at the will of God in prayer and see some of the many things for which we can pray and know we are praying in the will of God. Hebrews 10:38 tells us that “the just shall live by faith.” It is the will of God that we should ask for this faith that saves and keeps, not only for ourselves but for others. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Giving time in prayer to offer thanks unto our living God for the many, many blessings which He has bestowed upon us is indeed praying according to the will of God. Psalm 150:6 reads, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.” This is the will of God, that in prayer and daily life we give praise unto His blessed, holy and righteous name, which name is our refuge. Yes, praise Him for all His attributes: what He is in Himself. That is the reason our Lord taught us first of all to say when we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). 1 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us that “this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” We can pray with faith and assurance for the salvation of the lost, pray with all the faith and assurance of our souls that He will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, and His Spirit upon our children, and His blessing upon our offspring. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It is the will of God for us to pray the prayer of confession, to bring all of our sins to the mercy-seat, confess them, forsake them and be cleansed, washed whiter than snow! What a blessing is prayer, to know that if we call, God will hear us, even the confession of our sins! 1 Thessalonians 4:3 reads, “This is the will of God, even your sanctification,” or, as 1 Peter 1:16 puts it, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” This is another thing for which we can pray and cry unto God, and know that it is His will and that we shall be heard of Him who will work in our hearts and lives the image of Christ, setting us apart from sin unto the fellowship and service of God in the Holy Spirit. Yes, we should pray that we by the Spirit will be changed into Christ’s image and likeness from glory to glory. This being the will of God, even our sanctification, we can pray for it in our lives and in the lives of our children. Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:19 tell us that we should proclaim His gospel and be witnesses of Christ, so this should also be the burden of our praying, knowing that we are praying according to the will of God and that He hears us. We should pray and intercede for God’s ministers, His teachers, His missionaries, His translators in the field, and for all witnesses everywhere. What a privilege to pray for God’s ambassadors and the furtherance of the gospel in all lands! Do you see, my fellow believer, the many things for which we can pray, that, according to God’s Word, are His will, knowing that He will hear and answer prayer? Surely we know that we are praying in the will of God when, like the apostle Paul, we pray for God’s people everywhere with the prayer recorded in Ephesians 3:14-19. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know
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the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” What a petition! What intercession for God’s people! This is the grace of prayer. A solemn responsibility
What a solemn responsibility! Think of it: A responsibility is laid upon us to pray. How often we complain of darkness, of feebleness, of failure, as if there were no help, when God has promised to supply our every need and give us His light and strength and peace in answer to prayer. Oh, that we would realize the responsibility of having such a God and such promises, with the sin and shame of not availing ourselves of them to the uttermost! How confident we should feel that the enabling grace to pray as we should will be given! Remember, “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). So pray and keep on praying; our God hears and answers prayer. And “when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19), we shall praise Him and give thanks to His holy name for all He is in Himself, as our God in Christ.
Study Questions: Lesson 14 First please read chapter 5 in the text “Times of Refreshing.” God hears prayer 1. What do we learn about prayer from Isaiah 30:19? 2. “One great reason for the lack of prayer is the lack of a living, joyous assurance that ‘my God will hear me.’” To what degree does this describe your own experience in prayer? 3. What are some of the truths we are encouraged to ponder, in order to have confidence that God will hear us? “The Spirit also helpeth” 4. a. What is the key point from Romans 8:26-27? b. How does this encourage us toward prayer? According to the will of God 5. When we pray according to the will of God, we have assurance that He will answer us. What are the things listed which we can pray for, and know that we are praying according to the will of God? A solemn responsibility! 6. a. Why is prayer the most important daily responsibility for the Christian? b. What is your response personally to this? 7. The Scriptures below relate to the theme of chapter 5: “The Grounds of Our Confidence.” For each scripture below, write the reference and key meaning of the verse in your own words. When giving the meaning, please explain only the verse part which relates to the chapter's theme: “The Grounds of Our Confidence.” a. 1 John 5:14-15 b. 1 John 3:19-22 8. a. Please take some time to review all the lessons of this study. Briefly, what have you learned from this course? b. What permanent changes to your prayer life will you endeavor to make as a result of what you have learned? 9. Optional
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Appendix One is the Prayer Circle that many have found helpful in developing a greater capacity for prayer. If you are in the habit of praying only short, routine prayers, please spend one hour in private prayer, using the prayer circle as a guide. When you have done this, please indicate the time, date, and place on your answer sheet. How was your time? Will you do it again?
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Appendix 1:
The Prayer Circle
The Prayer Circle has helped many who were unfamiliar with longer periods of prayer, to develop the blessed habit of extended, personal, private prayer. After several times of using the Prayer Circle, you will find that you do not depend upon it. You will be able to have longer prayer times on your own. This is the goalsweet personal communion between you and your Savior. Imagine an hour divided into 12 parts of 5 minutes each. Or three hours in 12 parts of 15 minutes each. The 12 parts are used for each of the following types of prayer in sequence. Parts: 1. Praise 2. Wait 3. Confess 4. Read the Word 5. Intercession 6. Petition 7. Pray the Word 8. Thanksgiving 9. Singing 10. Meditation 11. Listen 12. Praise
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Guidelines for using the Prayer Circle: 1. Plan ahead a week or so in advance, to set apart an hour in your schedule, where you will be in private and uninterrupted. 2. Choose a very quiet place without distractions. Make sure others know it is reserved for your use at that time. 3. Each day beforehand, ask the Lord to prepare your heart. 4. Bring with you your Bible, any prayer lists you have, and perhaps a hymn book and writing paper. Begin by asking the Lord to fill you with His Spirit, and to prompt you as to how to pray. 5. The prayer circle is divided into 12 parts. In each part, pray for those people or issues related to that part. If your time is about an hour, each part will last about 5 minutes. It is perfectly suitable also to extend the time further, as the Lord leads. 6. Feel free to change positions during the time, even to walk some while you continue praying. 7. You will be amazed at how quickly the time passes! Hopefully, this is an encouragement to do it again periodically, and to consistently spend more time in prayer.
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