WHAT IS PRAYER?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 7, 1869

When listening to some long, tedious prayers, we have thought, if all was omitted except what was really prayer, it would be sufficiently short to be listened to with interest. It seems as though some thought if they did not make a long prayer the people would think it was because they lacked ability. Prayer is defined as “the act of asking a favor, and particularly with earnestness.” If one should go to ask a favor of one who was greatly his superior, it would be quite out of place for him to begin to give an account of passing events, and various other things not connected directly with the petition. The request should be presented in as few words as possible, in a simple manner, with becoming reverence and respect toward the one of whom the favor is expected. Those points should be especially observed in prayer to our Creator, if we would be heard with pleasure by those who may listen. The prayers recorded in the Bible are very short, when compared with most of the public prayers of the present day. Instead of its being a pleasure, it is often tedious, to unite with those who pray on public occasions. One would think they were praying like the Pharisees, to be heard of men. They appear to seek all possible ways to express the same thing; and go on to tell the Lord about things, of which, no doubt he is better informed than any one else. Many prayers are offered that hardly contain a single petition. It was a beautiful talk about various things, but the prayer was wanting. If all but the prayer was omitted, we think but very few would be over three minutes in length, thus corresponding with those recorded in the Scriptures.

It has often been observed that in revivals, prayers are usually short and fervent; but when a church is in a cold state, then we may expect long, cold and formal prayers, which afford no satisfaction to any one. It is only a kind of religious drudgery, which is performed like a school-boy's task. Such prayers, of course, do not avail much. When we live near to Jesus, prayer is a delight, and is to the Christian spiritually as is the breath of life physically. He cannot live without it.

It is to be feared there is a lack of prayer, private, social, and public, among those who are professedly looking for the coming of Jesus. In proportion as prayer is neglected, we grow weak and faint in the cause of the Lord. Those who have been the most noted for their success in winning sinners to Christ, have been equally noted for spending much time in secret prayer. We do not see how any one can think of living a Christian life without at least having a special place for morning and evening prayer, where he can be alone in communion with the Lord. When one gets so far from the Saviour as to neglect secret prayer, he may be sure he is in a dying condition.

Let us all watch and pray more, and we shall be more useful in the vineyard of the Lord, and better prepared to meet Jesus at his coming. Short prayers in public, and long ones in the closet.