Prevailing Prayer by Wm. M. Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 6, 1883

Prevailing Prayer.

By Wm. M. Taylor

THE desire that simply flits across the soul, as the shadow of the cloud glides over the summer grass, is no true prayer. It must take hold of the spirit, and gather into itself all the energy and earnestness of the suppliant. The popular idea, indeed, is that prayer is a very simple matter; but, in reality, it is the highest exercise of the soul, and requires for its presentation the concentration of all its powers. The English prelate was right when he said that “no man was likely to do much good in prayer who did not begin by looking upon it in the light of work to be prepared for, and persevered in, with all the earnestness which we bring to bear upon subjects which are, in our opinion, at once most interesting and most necessary.” So much as this must be evident from the phraseology of the Scriptures themselves. Observe the gradation in the terms, “asking,” “seeking,” “knocking.” The “asking” is the lower form of requesting; but the “seeking” implies the activity of one who puts himself to the labor of a search; and the “knocking” refers to the continued opportunity that repeats its application until it is satisfied that there is no one in, or until the door is actually opened.—Dr. Wm. M. Taylor.