Prayer

Characteristics of Prayer

What is prayer? A sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.

The best prayers have often more groans than words. Alas, how few there are in the world whose heart and mouth in prayer shall go together. Dost thou, when thou askest for the Spirit, or faith, or love to God, to holiness, to saints, to the word, and the like, ask for them with love to them, desire of them, hungering after them? Oh, this is a mighty thing; and yet prayer is no more before God than as it is seasoned with these blessed qualifications. Wherefore it is said, that while men are praying, God is searching the heart to see what is the meaning of the Spirit, or whether there be the Spirit and His meaning in all that the mouth hath uttered, either by words, sighs, or groans, because it is by Him and through His help only, that any make prayers according to the will of God (Rom. 8:26,27).

Preparation for Prayer

Before you enter into prayer, ask thy soul these questions: To what end, O my soul, art thou retired into this place? Art thou not come to discourse the Lord in prayer? Is He present, will He hear thee? Is He merciful, will He help thee? Is thy business slight, is it not concerning the welfare of thy soul? What words wilt thou use to move Him to compassion?

Prayer in the Name of Jesus

He that thinks to find grace at God’s hand, and yet enters not into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, will find himself mistaken, and will find a dead instead of a living way. For if anything below or besides blood can yield remission on God’s part, how should remission be received by us without our acting faith therein? We are justified by His blood, through faith in His blood.

Wherefore look, when thou approachest the throne of grace, that thou give diligence to seek for the “Lamb as it had been slain,” that is in the midst of the throne of grace; and then thou wilt have not only a sign that thou presenteth thy supplication to God where and as thou shouldst, but there also wilt thou meet with matter to break, to soften, to bend, to bow, and to make thy heart as thou wouldst have it. This sight shall dissolve and melt down the spirit of that man that is upon his knees before the throne of grace for mercy; especially when he shall see, that not his prayers, nor want, but the blood of the Lamb, has prevailed with a God of grace to give mercy to an undeserving sinner.

God hath prepared a golden altar for thee to offer thy prayers and tears upon, coming sinner. A golden altar! It is called a golden altar, to show what worth it is of in God’s account; for this golden altar is Jesus Christ — this altar sanctifies thy gift, and makes thy sacrifice acceptable. This altar then makes thy groans golden groans, thy tears golden tears, and thy prayers golden prayers, in the eye of that God thou comest to.

Faith in Prayer

Of old, beggars did use to carry their bowls in their laps when they went to a door for alms; consequently, if their bowls were but little, they oftimes came off with a loss, though the charity of the giver was large. Art thou a beggar, a beggar at God’s door? Be sure thou gettest a large bowl for as thy bowl is, so will be thy mess. “According to thy faith be it unto thee.”

Wrestling Prayer

A wrestling spirit of prayer is a demonstration of an Israel of God; this Jacob had, this he made use of, and by this he obtained the name of Israel. A wrestling spirit of prayer in straits, difficulties, and distresses — a wrestling spirit of prayer when alone, in private, in the night, when no eye seeth but God’s, then to wrestle, to hold fast, and not to give over until the blessing is obtained, is a sign of one that is an Israel of God.

The Prayerless

I tell thee who never prayest, the ravens shall rise up in judgment against thee; for they will, according to their kind, make signs and a noise for something to refresh them when they want it; but thou hast not the heart to ask for heaven, though thou must eternally perish in hell if thou hast it not.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a well-known English Puritan preacher and author of numerous treatises, most notably: The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), The Holy War (1682), and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666).

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