Do You Pray?
February 15th, 2007
The following is a timely reminder adapted from an essay by J.C. Ryle, on the vital importance of this oft-neglected spiritual discipline. To read the full essay, click here.
I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words, DO YOU PRAY?
The question is one that none but you can answer. Whether you attend public worship or not, your minister knows. Whether you have family prayers in your house or not, your relations know. But whether you pray in private or not, is a matter between yourself and God.
I beseech you in all affection to attend to the subject I bring before you. Do not say that my question is too close. If your heart is right in the sight of God, there is nothing in it to make you afraid. Do not turn off my question by replying that you say your prayers. It is one thing to say your prayers and another to pray. Do not tell me that my question is unnecessary. Listen to me for a few minutes, and I will show you good reason for asking it.
I ask whether you pray, because a habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian.
All the children of God on earth are alike in this respect. From the moment there is any life and reality about their religion, they pray. Just as the first sign of life in an infant when born into the world is the act of breathing, so the first act of men and women when they are born again is praying.
This is one of the common marks of all the elect of God, “They cry unto him day and night” (Luke 18:1). The Holy Spirit, who makes them new creatures, works in them the feeling of adoption, and makes them cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). The Lord Jesus, when he quickens them, gives them a voice and a tongue, and says to them, “Be dumb no more.” God has no dumb children. It is as much a part of their new nature to pray, as it is of a child to cry. They see their need of mercy and grace. They feel their emptiness and weakness. They can not do otherwise than they do. They must pray.
I have looked carefully over the lives of God’s saints in the Bible. I cannot find one of whose history much is told us, from Genesis to Revelation, who was not a man of prayer. I find it mentioned as a characteristic of the godly, that “they call on the Father” (I Peter 1:17), or “the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 1:2). Recorded as a characteristic of the wicked is the fact that “they call not upon the Lord” (Ps. 14:4).
I have read the lives of many eminent Christians who have been on earth since the Bible days. Some of them, I see, were rich, and some poor. Some were learned, and some unlearned. Some were Calvinists, and some were Arminians. Some have loved to use a liturgy, and some to use none. But one thing, I see, they all had in common. They have all been men of prayer.
I study the reports of missionary societies in our own times. I see with joy that heathen men and women are receiving the gospel in various parts of the globe. There are conversions in Africa, in New Zealand, in Hindustan, in China. The people converted are naturally unlike one another in every respect. But one striking thing I observe at all the missionary stations: the converted people always pray.
I do not deny that a man may pray without heart and without sincerity. I do not for a moment pretend to say that the mere fact of a person’s praying proves is everything about his soul. As in every other part of religion, so also in this, there may be deception and hypocrisy.
But this I do say, that not praying is a clear proof that a man is not yet a true Christian. He cannot really feel his sins. He cannot love God. He cannot feel himself a debtor to Christ. He cannot long after holiness. He cannot desire heaven. He has yet to be born again. He has yet to be made a new creature. He may boast confidently of election, grace, faith, hope, and knowledge, and deceive ignorant people. But you may rest assured it is all vain talk if he does not pray.
And I say, furthermore, that of all the evidences of the real work of the Spirit, a habit of hearty private prayer is one of the most satisfactory that can be named. A man may preach from false motives. A man may write books and make fine speeches and seem diligent in good works, and yet be a Judas Iscariot. But a man seldom goes into his closet, and pours out his soul before God in secret, unless he is in earnest. The Lord himself has set his stamp on prayer as the best proof of a true conversion. When he sent Ananias to Saul in Damascus, he gave him no other evidence of his change of heart than this, “Behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9: 11).
Do you wish to find out whether you are a true Christian? Then rest assured that my question is of the very first importance — Do you pray?
I do pray. I have noticed that my prayer life has grown over the years and expect it to continue to grow in ways I have not even imagine. Going before His throne is a great privilege we have in Jesus…one that I don’t take to heart as I truly should, but with God’s grace will improve upon day by day until I see His face. I also believe that our pray life will increase as we see more and more persecution come to this country. I hope we all learn to pray as we should before we find ourselves in persecution…oil in our lamps! Great post!
[...] The Pulpit Magazine Blog has a wonderful post today about prayer. [...]
A timely reminder for all born-again christians to get down on their knees in humility & thankfulness,a great honor & privilege to call Yahweh “our Father”.With the world pushing against us from all directions,with all its lusts,temptations &enticements,we need to get closer to our Father in heaven,in a prayer-dialogue,to be strengthened & enabled by Him to be overcomers & warriors with the armour of God to help us stand against the evil one.
His Holy Spirit renews,refreshes & regenerates our inner man & helps us to be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might.
It is indeed a fruitful exercise to pray,not for ourselves but for the needs of others.
I Pray alot but I feel that I don’t pray enough the Bible says to Pray without ceasing. And That is where I would like to be the problem I see is that when I do start pray in my room or on the stars to get away one of my kids are right there. With me having five kids this becomes a problem it seems that the only place I get alone in this house is in the bathroom. My question would be this how do I get more alone time to pray in quiet place, for solitudinal prayer?
Thank you for this blog it has been a blessing to me.
Kevin Woodson
As the article says praying is sign of a real christianity.
My Friend Kevin i really undestand what you are saying, cause many times the same thing happen to me when i’m praying, but it’s important to understand what “to pray without ceasing” means. To pray without ceasing does not mean that you should always close your eyes and get on your knees or look for a place to pray, it means that whatever your situation is or wherever you are, and need of God your first reaccion should be praying. It means that, for example, if you are in a place and you see a need, it could be your need or others’ need, your first reaccion is the praying. It could be just few word like “God i need you” we have some examples in the Bible like this: For example when the apostols scream to Jesús “Lord Save us that we perish (Mt. 8:25)”; or when the thief in the cross told Jesus “Remenber of me when you came in your Kingdon (Lc.23:42)” sometimes it could be words of gratitude like ” God Thank you for this” this is what to pray without ceasing means, but of course it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look for the best time to pray, it is our responsiblility to look for and find the righ time when we can be just God and us, this time is really important for the health of our relationship with our Lord an Saivour.
Dear Brother in Jesuscrist i really encourage you to find a rigth time in which you can share with the lord without being interrupted. Pray about it, i’m sure you’ll find it.
Kevin,
you probably were not addressing the question to me, but I have some experience on the matter from a former child’s perspective. My mother was a prayer warrior. She taught us the importance of prayer. She taught us the concept of the fear of God. She taught us respect for adults you know the old timey things like getting out of a chair when an adult walked into the room, stop talking when an adult starting talking, etc. Teaching respect for adult and also respect for the things of God helped us at very young ages to see our places in the world…a very loving place, but a place where we observed adults and the things they were doing and to be quiet when we see the occasion and talk when we saw the occasion. Seeing my mother praying, instilled a sense of need for prayer in my young life. I often see children who are not being brought up in Biblical ways. They are put on a pedestal as being the most important people in the family…thus the generation of children we have now. Even though my sisters had a great example through my mother, they have failed their children by spoiling them and now they are paying a heavy price…all of them. When children know their place in the family then they automaticly respect you private times…they realize that they are not the most important people in the family that God is first and so on. Paul Washer has a good sermon on families if you’re interested.
Sarah and Moises,
Thank you my brother and sister. I need any help in this. I do pray the small little prayers during the day, But it just seems at times it may not be enough and that I can’t praise and thank God enough for what he has done in my life, for I am blessed with my five kids. But I don’t feel I am praying enough, I just need to go and do that which you said both of ya thanks alot guys.
God Bless
Kevin
Its ironic the one thing that Christian really should do is pray. Thinking about the awesome promises and the power of prayer is like God handing out free money to everyone.
It would seem that with the God of the universe always ready and willing to hear us, we’d have sermons asking Christians to not pray (me most def. included). Its akin to having an free ATM filled with money always at your disposal, but you always complain of having no money and its just like “HELLO, YOU HAVE a free atm in your house! Hown can you have no money?!?!”
Edit:
Yikes! I meant to say sermons asking Christians to not pray so much and that they should also serve and read the Bible since all they are doing is praying!
I love J.C. Ryle. He was such a great writer and encourager of things that are righteous. I really love “Thoughts for Young Men.”
[...] Pulpit Magazine stresses the importance of prayer with an essay from J. C. Ryle [...]
John,
You say prayer is like having an ATM machine at your house….that’s like Bush treating Congress like an ATM.
I am sure you meant that figuratively not literally, for I am poor in worldly goods but rich in a spiritual inheritance.
Or did God just recently send you a million dollars? If so, would you be willing to share?
Just kidding………