The Practice Of Prayer

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: Prayer | Apr 1979

"Ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God" (Jude 20,21).

The Christian who wishes to serve the Lord and to joy in Him must pay attention to the words written by Jude. He must build himself up in the faith by obedience to the Word of God, and by prayer in the Holy Spirit. Others can help him (some may hinder!) but most of all, his spiritual growth depends on his own desire for the word of God and for prayer. If he neglects these his spiritual life will wither. "Teach us to pray" said the disciples to the Lord, and so He taught them after what manner they should pray. They seemed to be unused to prayer.

Prayer is so very important in the life of the Christian that he must set apart time for it, however busy he may be. He must guard his prayer time, lest it be stolen from him by other things. We may pray about many things, briefly, during each day, but a time must be reserved for quiet communion with God. Without this we cannot have the spiritual refreshment we so much need. We must guard against the barrenness of a busy life which shuts out prayer.

David wrote, "My soul, be thou silent unto God; for my expectation is from Him" (Psa. 62:5 RVM). David's psalms reveal the greatness of his prayer life. Daniel, too, spent times on his knees with God. The story of Daniel, and the effects of his prayer life, have stirred many to seek God more earnestly. His times of intercession wrought mightily for the return of his people to their own land; and also in the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest monarch of his time (Dan. 4:37). The glimpse we get of Daniel, praying on his knees, three times a day (Dan. 6:10), explains his fearlessness in the presence of kings and lions. What a man of prayer he was!

A man brought his young son to the disciples asking them to heal him and to cast out a demon. They tried hard - without prayer - and failed. When Jesus came, He cast out the demon and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. "Why could not we cast it out?" asked the disciples. "Because of your little faith" He said (Matt. 17:19,20). "This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer" (Mark 9:29). Because of lack of prayer, their faith was weak. Amid the spiritual darkness that prevails today we have great need of the power that comes through prayer and faith.

"Prayer moves the Hand that moves the world

To bring deliverance down".

Our times in prayer before God should not be spent in asking only. There should also be thanksgiving and praise. The Lord healed ten lepers who cried to Him in their need, and He healed them. When they were healed only one returned to give Him thanks, and the Lord was saddened at this. Let us mingle prayer with thanksgiving and praise.

We ought not to hurry through the time of prayer and intercession, for so much depends on it. We must take time for the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer. This is "praying in the Holy Spirit", as Jude exhorts us. Paul wrote, "We know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered ... because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. 8:26,27). So important is prayer, and so little do we know how to pray, that the Holy Spirit guides us in this. He "groans" in us as He burdens our hearts with prayer according to the will of God. We must quieten our spirits, as did David, so that the divine Spirit may guide us. Some of our prayers may not be answered because they spring from our own desires but what comes from the leading of the Holy Spirit will surely be answered.

When in prayer we are assured that we are led by the Holy Spirit, who knows the burden on our hearts. Then we know that God will hear

and answer us, because we are asking according to His will. "If we know that He heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:15). We can then praise Him. Faith in the promises of God is essential in prayer (Mark 11:23,24; Jas. 5;15,16). Faith is dependent on a knowledge of the will of God.

We must prevail individually in private prayer before we can prevail collectively in assembly prayer. Praying saints, both brethren and sisters, add to the spiritual power of the assembly in which they are. The power of an assembly is not measured merely by the number of disciples enrolled. A large assembly may yet lack power if there are few in it who prevail with God in the secret place (Psa. 91).

When we draw near collectively in assembly prayer it is very important that we should be one in heart and soul so that all can heartily say the Amen. Division in heart, or any grudge one against another, will nullify our prayers. The prayer meeting reveals the spiritual power of an assembly. When there is unity of heart and joy in the Lord, it will be evident in our freedom and liberty in prayer, as we draw near with boldness to the Throne of Grace. There we receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. How wonderful is the privilege of the prayer meeting!

When the saints spend time individually in prayer to God, their collective prayer is likely to be both earnest and pointed, and will include thanksgiving and praise. Led by the Holy Spirit, they will not multiply words beyond the real exercise of their hearts. In Acts 4:23-31 we read about the church in Jerusalem, together in prayer, united in heart and soul. As they prayed for boldness to preach the word the Holy Spirit filled them all. It was a great day, with great results, for with great power the apostles spoke the word, and great grace was upon them all. That prayer meeting is an example of the joy and fulness that results from a praying people, united in heart, praying in the Holy Spirit.

Whether in private or in assembly prayer, we must have clean hands and pure hearts. Our thoughts and actions must be well-pleasing to God. The God we serve is a holy God, and holiness becomes His house for evermore (Psa. 93:5). The "sweet psalmist of Israel" cried, "Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me", as he wept his way back again to fellowship with God (Psa. 51). God demands holiness in those who draw near to Him. Without sanctification, or holiness, no man will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). To "see" the Lord means having fellowship with Him day by day.

The more we learn of prayer and supplication before God so much the more do we learn of the majesty, and glory, and holiness of God. He

who dwells in the high and holy place dwells also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit (Isa. 57:15). We remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy maybe fulfilled" (John 16:24). Let us continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving (Col. 4:2).

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Apr 1979
Prayer