Monday, May 10, 2004
The Dynamism of Prayer (Eph 6:18)
The accoutrement cap-a-pie appropriate to the Christian warrior has been reconnoitred; but though no piece of armour can be said to have been overlooked, a dynamic all-important for a campaign waged against the standing army of darkness craves mention. What Luther says of the Reformation may be affirmed of every stage of the conflict in the heavenlies; “prayer must do the deed.” If not strictly one of the weapons of our warfare, it is their potent concomitant and indispensable auxiliary. By persevering, unceasing, heart felt prayer alone can the soldier of Christ acquire or retain that high-souled fortitude, that indomitable resolution, that spiritual presence of mind amid the hurly-burly and din of battle, that calmness in the wearing hours of suspense, for lack of which he may blot his escutcheon deplorably either through temerity or treachery.
Prayer is an engine wieldable by every believer, mightier than all the embattled artillery of hell. Never out of season, nor to be deemed a drudgery, it is to be plied indefatigably, with a compass coextensive with the church universal. Its circuit should be as catholic and its importunity as fervent as the needs of the host of the Lord in every quarter of the globe. To differentiate between prayer and supplication seems hypercritical. Some would construe in the Spirit of the human agent principally; and that appears to be the meaning of the phrase in such contexts as Rom 1:4, 1Cor 14:15; but Jude writes of “praying in the Holy Spirit” (20), and true prayer is both the suitor’s own and the Spirit’s work. The sincerity and intension of soul pertain to the human petitioner; the potency, inspiration and freedom of utterance and access (2:18) spring from “the secret touch of the Spirit” (Gurnall), generating a glow of holy emotion in the suppliant’s soul.
The primary condition of true communion with the Most High is a consciousness that we are holding converse with a Divine Person, not addressing vacancy like the pantheistic word-spinner. For all prayer worth the name is “a living voice speaking in a living ear.” It may be tranquil or agnostic, ejaculatory or protracted. And we may add that a routine of prayer prescribed and appointed by rule, is ill suited to an intercourse so sacredly familiar and intimate as the approach of children to a Father in heaven. Entreaty for the welfare of others is amongst the noblest privileges of the Lord’s people; and observation bears record that public disasters and private distress multiply in proportion to the decay of the importunate intercession which prevails to “move the hand that moves the world to bring salvation down.” Proficients in the holy art of intercession are sorely needed by the church of God today, skilled to turn the battle in the gate by dint of this impalpable reagent. And may not ten praying souls avert the vials of judgment from some wrath-provoking Sodom or Capernaum?
-E.K. Simpson
"You don't have to pray out loud; He's nearer than you can imagine."
-Brother Lawrence
"She's young at heart but no teenager
Early thirties I would wager
I came along a little later
So I could merely carbon date her
Age, she's not keen to
It's a trap, I a door
In the stage she can go through
Until the encore"
"Oh the life of a working girl
I used to see her all the time"
