Andrew Murray (1828 – 1917) was a well-known writer/pastor who lived and ministered among the Dutch Reformed churches in South Africa. He was serious about living a life of holiness and emphasized the importance of prayer in his teachings and books. Murray wrote over 50 books on living the deeper Christian life and abiding in Christ. I pray that many of his quotes below will challenge you to become more serious about your walk with the Lord.1
“Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!”
“We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.”
“God cannot hear the prayers on our lips often because the desires of our heart after the world cry out to Him much more strongly and loudly than our desires for Him.”
“The sooner I learn to forget myself in the desire that He may be glorified, the richer will be the blessing that prayer will bring to myself. No one ever loses by what he sacrifices to the Father.”
“The power to believe a promise depends entirely on our faith in the one who promises.”
“Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.”
“Let it be your business every day, in the secrecy of the inner chamber, to meet the holy God. You will be repaid for the trouble it may cost you. The reward will be sure and rich.”
“God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.”
“May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God’s presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.”
“God has no pleasure in afflicting us, but He will not keep back even the most painful chastisement if He can but thereby guide His beloved child to come home and abide in the beloved Son.”
“The Christian often tries to forget his weakness; God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it; God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness; Christ teaches His servant to say, ‘I take pleasure in infirmities. Most gladly …will I…glory in my infirmities’ (2 Cor. 12:9)’ The Christian thinks his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God; God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”
“We have a God who delights in impossibilities.”
“O, let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth.”
“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”
“Nowhere can we get to know the holiness of God, and come under His influence and power, except in the inner chamber. It has been well said: “No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.”
“The great thing in prayer is to feel that we are putting our supplications into the bosom of omnipotent love.”
“While others still slept, He went away to pray and to renew His strength in communion with His Father. He had need of this, otherwise He would not have been ready for the new day. The holy work of delivering souls demands constant renewal through fellowship with God.”
“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”
“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray.”
“The whole difficulty is that we wish to pray in the Spirit and at the same time walk after the flesh. This is impossible.”
“No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.”
“The place of private prayer is the key, the strategic position, where decisive victory is obtained.”
1 All of these quotes are from the following websites:
Andrew Murray Quotes (Author of Humility)
150 Andrew Murray Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
The 10 Most Profound Andrew Murray Quotes
Andrew Murray | Deeper Christian Quotes
Inspirational Quotes by Andrew Murray (bibleportal.com)