Your ShelfYour Projects

The Place and Effect of Prayer

20%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 47.

Read the full edition

The Place and Effect of Prayer

EVERY new move in the history of God’s work among men has been inaugurated by prayer and made possible by prayer. Prayer has brought it sustenance and growth. Prayer has opened the way before it, and scattered hindrances to the right and left. The prayers of God’s servants through the ages have kept alive his work and prospered it. The Christian is wisely occupied when he is seeking God for strength and guidance for the prosecution of his work. Look at this list: “Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed him Abimelech;” “When Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched;” “Moses prayed for the people;” “Hannah . . . prayed unto the Lord;” “Elisha prayed unto the Lord;” “Hezekiah prayed;” “Isaiah . . . prayed;” “Now when Ezra had prayed;” “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed;” Jeremiah “prayed unto the Lord;” “Jonah prayed;” Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed;” Jesus “fell on his face, and prayed;” “Peter . . . prayed;” Paul “kneeled down, and prayed.”
God’s band has always been a praying band, and in that has dwelt the secret of their power; for it is one of the attributes of God that he hears truly prayer (Ps. 65:2), and “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Jesus, the Son of God, did not enter upon the great work he was commissioned to do without approaching the Father’s throne in prayer. The record says: “Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21, 22. If intercessory prayer was necessary to Jesus in inaugurating the work given him to do, how necessary it is to us if we are to be his instruments in bringing that work to a successful completion!
God can work through a man who prays, if his prayers are prayers indeed, and not in form alone; if his prayers are genuine recognitions of existing need rather than assertions of goodness inherent and wisdom already possessed. When Saul had been stricken on his tour of persecution, and was desirous of knowing the divine will, the Lord spoke thus to his servant Ananias concerning him: “Arise, and go to the street which is called Strait, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth.” Acts 9:11. Ananias, knowing Saul’s record, was fearful of obeying; but the command was repeated, with the reason why it was given: “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel.” But the first thing the Lord mentions of him is, “Behold, he prayeth.” Because he did, God wrought mightily through him for the conversion of Jews and Gentiles.