The Need of Prayer by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

The Need of Prayer

By G. B. THOMPSON

The apostle Paul exhorts, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Col. 4: 2. Again he says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Eph. 6: 18.

This text applies especially at the time when the devil is plotting how to make his most desperate and final attack on the people of God. Our way of escape is through prayer; not an occasional, meaningless petition, but earnestly “praying always,” with “supplication,” and “watching,” and “all perseverance,” with every intensity of the soul on the stretch. Many get right on the verge of a great blessing, and then let go, quit, when they should wrestle like Jacob, who said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” O, that these words might burn from our hearts the slothfulness in prayer!

It has been truly said, “Much prayer, much power; little prayer, little power; no prayer, no power.” Prayer is the pivot of piety; there can be no piety without prayer. James states this same great truth: “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4: 2. Preachers are powerless to win souls because they do not pray. Churches are withering up because business has taken the place of prayer in the lives of the members. Prayer meetings are dying out because prayer is neglected; pleasure rather than godliness is loved. Unbelief is darkening many hearts because of the neglect of prayer. Many are losing their hold on God, and drifting into the world because the secret place of prayer is forgotten. Our need of prayer is truly great; our neglect is appalling.

In Pentecostal days prayer was placed ahead of business. When pressed with secular affairs, the apostles said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6: 2-4.

Here is the secret of power,—it is giving ourselves “continually to prayer.” It is not to supplicate the throne of God occasionally, nor to pray from a sense of duty rather than from an earnest desire to commune with God, but to pray “always,” in all places and under all circumstances. G. B. THOMPSON.