… because prayer is absolutely needful to a man’s
salvation…
… because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks
of a true Christian…
… because there is no duty in religion so neglected as
private prayer…
… because prayer is an act in religion to which there
is great encouragement…
… because diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent
holiness…
… because neglect of prayer is one great cause of
backsliding…
I ask,
lastly, whether you pray, because prayer
is one of the best means of happiness and contentment…
I want you
to be happy. I know I cannot ask you a
more useful question than this: Do you
pray?...
“Let me
speak a parting word to those who do not pray…
It is
useless to say you know not how to pray…
It is
useless to say you have no convenient
place to pray in…
It is
useless to say you have no time…
It is
useless to say you cannot pray till you
have faith and a new heart…
“Let me
speak lastly to those who do pray…
I commend to
your attention the importance of reverence
and humility in prayer…
I comment to
you the importance of praying spiritually…
I commend to
you the importance of making prayer a
regular business of life…
I commend to
you the importance of perseverance in
prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of earnestness in
prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of praying with faith…
I commend to
you the importance of boldness in
prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of fullness in
prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of particularity
in prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of intercession in
our prayers…
I commend to
you the importance of thankfulness in
prayer…
I commend to
you the importance of watchfulness
over your prayers…
“Oh let us
keep an eye continually upon our private devotions!... If you will take care of
your prayers, nothing shall go very wrong with your soul.”
J.C. Ryle, “A Call to Prayer”
At the
summer weekend away, we spent some time thinking about prayer, and the amazing
truth that we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” We talked about what that might look like in
student life and over the summer, and all took a copy of J.C. Ryle’s A Call to Prayer. A way through the summer, I echo his
question: “Do you pray?” Or in the language of the writer to the
Hebrews, ‘Are you approaching the throne of grace with confidence to receive
mercy and find grace?’
If prayer is
a struggle, or if any of the headings above from Ryle’s tract touched a nerve,
then read his Call to Prayer (web link here
for anyone who hasn’t got a copy). Maybe
take one of his points each day and pray the Spirit would use it to drive you
to pray.
Let us be
those who do not “neglect the throne of grace”.
Let us be those who pray.
