›› Some Thoughts on Prayer

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (2 Thess. 5:16-18)

“Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, p. 27)

He prays to God and finds favor with Him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. (Job 33:26)

“For any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received. We need look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most.” (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 258)

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (Psalms 5:2-3)

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” (Ellen G. White, Steps To Christ, p. 93)

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. (Psalm 32:6)

“Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as His providence shall indicate. Accept His plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the abandonment of cherished projects. Thus the life will be molded more and more after the divine example; and ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:7.” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 44)

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (Mark 14:38)

“Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him.... Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest.... The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.” (Ellen G. White, Steps To Christ, p. 100)

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

“Our devotional exercises should not consist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us.” (Ellen G. White, Steps To Christ, p. 102-103)

Be still and know that I am God.... (Psalm 46:10)

“All who have walked with God have viewed prayer as the main business of their lives.” (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (Mark 11:24-25)

“Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality.” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 347)

...Pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:28)

“God’s purposes know no haste and no delay.” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 32)

...You do not have, because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)

“In our private communions with God, time is essential to the value of the prayer. Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying. God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly. He does not bestow His gifts on the casual or hasty comer and goer. To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of having influence with Him.” (E. M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer, p. 43)