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The Power of Prayer

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 57.

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The Power of Prayer

By F. M. W.

It has been truly said that in every age of the church the men of power have been the men of prayer. It was the communion of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Heavenly Father that gave him the strength to go forth for his mighty conflicts with the powers of darkness. It was through this intercession that he drew strength for his strenuous labors. By it power was given him for the accomplishment of his mighty works. By this means, and this means only, can his disciples today carry forward his work successfully.
The Word and Way of September 11 cites these notable examples of praying men, and of what God accomplished through the ministry of prayer:—
Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer, and often more than this. He began at four in the morning. One who knew him well says of him, “He thought prayer to be more his business than anything else, and I have seen him come from his closet with a serenity of face next to shining.”
John Fletcher stained the walls of his room with the breath of his prayers. Sometimes he would pray all night.
Luther said: “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day.” His motto was, “He that has prayed well, has studied well.”
Bishop Leighton was so much alone with God that he seemed to be in a perpetual meditation. Substantially the same was said of Dr. A. J. Gordon.
Bishop Asbury said, “I propose to rise at four o’clock as often as I can, and spend two hours in prayer and meditation.”
Samuel Rutherford rose at three o’clock in the morning to meet God in prayer.
Robert Murray McCheyne spent from 6 to 8 A. M. and an hour after tea shut in with God.
The memorable Methodist Band spent from four to five in the morning and from five to six in the afternoon in private prayer.
John Welch, a worthy son-in-law of John Knox, and wonderful preacher, thought the day ill spent if he did not spend eight to ten hours in prayer. His wife would complain when she found him on the ground weeping. He would reply, “O woman, I have the souls of three thousand to answer for, and I know not how it is with many of them!”
It is said of the saintly Payson that he wore the hardwood boards into grooves where his knees pressed so often and so long. His biographer says, “His continuing instant in prayer is the most noticeable fact in his history, and points out the duty of all who would rival his eminency.”
Dr. Adoniram Judson spent several hours a day in prayer. He impressed an empire for Christ, and laid the foundations of imperishable granite in the heart of Burma.
David said: “Early will I seek thee.” “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning.”
Christ went to the place of prayer a great while before day.
Christmas Evans knew the value and power of prayer, which brought to him “the anointing of the Holy One, which worketh mightily in the inward man. This is the mystery of effective preaching. We must be endued with power from on high.” His preaching brought conviction of sin like a deluge over the people.
John Livingstone preached one sermon in Scotland after a night of prayer, and 500 persons professed conversion. Michael Roberts, of Wales, preached and 1,000 decided for Christ. Another mighty Welsh preacher, John Elias, preached one sermon and 2,500 were added to the church.
Let us “give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
The need of the church of God today is a greater spirit of prayer. How little time we spend in this blessed service, compared with our great need! To us there has been committed a great ministry, the ministry of the gospel of saving grace to fallen man, the glorious proclamation of the coming of the Lord. Against that message stands arrayed all the hosts of evil. Our only hope of success is in God. The only means by which we may obtain the divine aid is through Heaven’s appointed way of prayer. Let us pray much, for prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. F. M. W.