Do You Pray?

It has been said that whenever we teach, “we stand on the shoulders of others.” That is, we are dependent on the understanding and interpretation of Scripture by others, or we confirm our interpretations by the insights of others.

Additionally, other writers and speakers will often have more compelling ways to say about biblical topics than we might be able to say.  I call that, “they said it better than me” statements.  To that end, here are a few statements about the importance of prayer from others who said it better than me — might they also “Teach us to pray…”  

J. C. Ryle:

“I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?

“The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God.

“I beseech you in all affections to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray.” (“Call to Prayer”)

Martin Luther:

“…It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business in the morning and the last in the evening. Guard yourself against such false and deceitful thought that keep whispering: Wait a little while. In an hour or so I will pray, I must finish this or that. Thinking such thoughts we get away from prayer into other things that will hold us and involve us till the prayer of that day comes to naught.” (In, The Shepherd as Leader)

David MacIntyre, quoting John Laidlaw:

“The main lesson about prayer is just this: Do it! Do it! Do it! You want to be taught to pray. My answer is: pray and never faint, and then you shall never fail. There is no possibility. You cannot fail… A sense of real want is the very root of prayer.” (The Hidden Life of Prayer)

Tom Pennington:

“Throughout church history, godly men have joined the chorus, emphasizing the importance of prayer. Augustine wrote, ‘Prayer is the protection of holy souls…the preserver of spiritual health…the column of all virtues, a ladder to God…[and] the foundation of faith.’ Martin Luther said, ‘As it is the business of tailors to make clothes, and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.’ In his Institutes, John Calvin called prayer ‘the chief exercise of faith by which we daily receive God’s benefits.’” (In, The Shepherd as Leader)

Jonathan Edwards:

“Finally, seeing we have such a prayer-hearing God as we have heard, let us be much employed in the duty of prayer.  Let us pray with all prayer and supplication.  Let us live prayerful lives, continuing instant in prayer, watching thereunto with all perseverance.  Praying always, without ceasing, earnestly, and not fainting.” (“The Most High a Prayer-Hearing God”)