AttitudeJan03

God's Great Need

(Prayer)

Why are many Christians so often defeated? Because they pray so little. Why are many church-workers so often discouraged and dishearted? Because they pray so little. Why do most men see so few brought "out of darkness to light" by their ministry? Because they pray so little. Why are not our churches simply on fire for God? Because there is so little real prayer.

The Lord Jesus is as powerful today as ever before. The Lord Jesus is as anxious for men to be saved as ever before. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save: but He cannot stretch forth His arm unless we pray more - and more really.

We may be assured of this - the secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer.

If God "wondered" in the days of Isaiah, we need not be surprised to find that in the days of His flesh our Lord "marvelled". He marvelled at the unbelief of some - unbelief which actually prevented Him from doing any mighty works in their cities. (Mark 6:6)

But we must remember that those who were guily of this unbelief saw no beauty in Him that they should desire Him, or believe on HIm. What then must His "marvel" be today, when He sees amongst us who do truly love and adore Him, so few who really "stir themselves up to take hold of God". Surely there is nothing so absolutely astonishing as a practically prayless Christian? These are eventful and ominous days. In fact, there are many evidences that these are "the last days" in which God promised to pour out His Spirit - the Spirit of supplication - upon all flesh. Yet the vast majority of professing Christians scarcely know what "supplication" means; and very many of our churches not only have no prayer meeting, but sometimes unblushingly condemn such meetings, and even ridicule them.

Let us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for man is to pray. For we can accomplish far more by our prayers than by our work. Prayer is omnipotent; it can do anything that God can do! When we pray God works. All fruitfulness in service is the outcome of prayer - of the worker's prayers, or of those who are holding up holy hands on his behalf. We all know how to pray, but perhaps many of us need to cry as the disciples did of old, "Lord, teach us to pray."