Reading books on prayer has become one of my most therapeutic practices. We must be cautious, of course, for it’s perilously easy to read about prayer, study prayer, talk about prayer, and collect sayings on prayer, without actually praying. I often find it far easier to spend an hour preparing a sermon on prayer than to spend an hour praying. That said, however, my prayer life and my faith have been strengthened by the insights of others on this subject. Here are some of my favorites:
Our loved ones may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.
—ADAPTED FROM J. SIDLOW BAXTER
Move men, through God, by prayer alone.
—HUDSON TAYLOR
Come on them from above! . . . By intercessory prayer we can hold off Satan from other lives and give the Holy Ghost a chance with them. No wonder Jesus put such tremendous emphasis on prayer!
—OSWALD CHAMBERS
They may not listen to us when we plead with them, but they can not hold out if we pray for them. . . . Tell God, and then trust God.
—The Kneeling Christian
I never prayed sincerely for anything but it came, at some time . . . somehow, in some shape.
—ADONIRAM JUDSON,
THE UNITED STATES’ FIRST MISSIONARY
I must talk to Father about this.
—BILLY BRAY
A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to come unraveled.
—AUTHOR UNKNOWN