As I was preparing for Sunday morning’s sermon, I came across a number of helpful statements about prayer, including these three:
“No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege, in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times, according to His mind and will.” [John Owen]
“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart and soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God.” [John Bunyan]
“There are many things outside the power of ordinary Christian people, and great position, wide influence, outstanding ability, may be lacking to almost all of us, but the humblest and least significant Christian can pray, and as ‘prayer moves the Hand that moves the world,’ perhaps the greatest power we can exert is that which comes through prayer.” [W. H. Griffith Thomas]
I have also been reading selected chapter this week in Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer, and have found myself much encouraged.
Words of Grace 