In yesterday’s devotion I shared some wonderful quotes on prayer by E. M. Bounds. One quote that really blessed me was: “Prayer is far-reaching in its influence and worldwide in its effects. It affects all men, affects them everywhere, and affects them in all things. It touches man’s interest in time and eternity. It lays hold upon God and moves Him to interfere in the affairs of earth. It moves the angels to minister to men in this life. It restrains and defeats the devil in his schemes to ruin man. Prayer goes everywhere and lays its hand upon everything.”1
Prayer is so amazing because it puts us in touch with our limitless God who has limitless resources to do limitless things. I really like how Corrie Ten Boom put it: “The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.”2
And not only is prayer wonderful and powerful but according to Andrew Murray it is also mysterious: “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.”3 And the thing that I really find fascinating about prayer is that it specializes in overcoming difficulties. George Müller shared this thought well: “The greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will it be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by prayer and faith.”4
But perhaps the most wonderful thing about prayer is that when the answer comes it allows us to showcase to the world how awesome our God is since the primary reason we should be praying is to allow our God to get all the glory! Yes, God delights to supply our needs through prayer and asking God to meet our needs is perfectly fine, but I believe that this is a secondary motivation to pray. For when we read the Lord’s Prayer in (Matthew 6) notice how it starts: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10).
Notice it is only after we pray: “Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” that we then should pray for our needs, which include praying for our daily bread, to have our sins forgiven, and to not be led into temptation. (Matthew 6:11-13).
One of the greatest blessings I have ever received, which has really helped me pray more effectively, is to understand that the priority of prayer is that we pray first and foremost that God is glorified and secondarily that our needs be met.
Again, Andrew Murray adds insight to this wonderful vehicle called prayer: “Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its success. Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our chief work as God’s messengers be intercession; in it we secure the presence and power of God to go with us.”5 And what can be more impactful and joyous than to have the presence and power of God to travel with us on our journey through life!
Prayer allows us to hallow God’s name, give Him all the glory, see souls come to the saving knowledge of Christ, have our daily needs met, and is available to us 24/7!
My friends, in closing I challenge you to never look at prayer as a duty but always as a wonderful delight. E. M. Bounds shared this thought well: “Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.”6
1 Prayer Quotes | Precept Austin
2 I Stand at the Door and Knock Quotes by Corrie ten Boom
3 Prayer Quotes | Precept Austin
4 George Müller Quotes (Author of The Autobiography of George Muller)