Archives for March 2015

Are you interested in learning why the Works of William Perkins were more popular than the writings of John Calvin in early modern England? Part 2 of the interview of Stephen Yuille and me by Books at a Glance is available to read here.

Books at a Glance has interviewed Stephen Yuille and me about the publication of volume 1 of The Works of William Perkins. To read about Perkins’s life, his impact on the Synod of Dort, and whether or not he was a Puritan, go here.

Over the last number of weeks, we have addressed various aspects of prayer: its characteristics, attitudes, and hindrances. Yet so often our primary need is to grow in our desire and longing for prayer. Alexander Ross once noted that a man “may pray with his lips and yet not pray with an intense desire of the soul.” This is often characteristic of the Christian. He must learn how to increase his hunger and ardor for speaking to God.

Therefore let me conclude with a number of encouragements to pray.

1. Maintain the priority of prayer.

In the busyness of modern life, oftentimes, to our shame, prayer is the last step, or, at best, a second or third thing. We encounter a problem or difficulty at work or school, and immediately our minds race to solve it. We consider pros and cons, ifs and thens—perhaps then we pray. But the believer must realize that prayer must have the priority in his life, along with Scripture. Realize, as Bunyan said, “You can do more than prayer, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” Always make prayer #1. Don’t ever abandon your stated times of prayer, and when you have an impulse to pray at any time, make it a rule to always do so immediately. Give prayer its due priority.

2. Cultivate the spirit and habit of prayer.

Strive for grace to pray your way throughout the day. That’s what Paul means when he commands, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

Once there was a group of ministers who gathered together to discuss the question of how one may pray without ceasing. For a whole month they pondered it, and then came together to discuss. A maid servant heard their conversation, and bluntly exclaimed, “Why, that is one of the easiest and best commands in the Bible.”

The ministers were astounded. “Let me hear how you do this,” said one.

“Well,” the girl replied, “when I open my eyes in the morning I pray, ‘Lord, open the eyes of my understanding.’ While I am dressing, I pray that I may be clothed with righteousness. When I am washing myself, I ask for the washing of regeneration. When I begin to work, I pray that I may have the strength equal to the day. When I kindle the fire, I pray that God will revive my soul. When I begin to sweep out the house, I pray that my heart may be cleansed from all impurities. When I am preparing breakfast, I desire to be fed with the manna of heaven and the sincere milk of the Word. As I am busy with the children, I look to God as my Father, and pray for the spirit of adoption that I may be His child—and so on through the day. All I do furnishes me with a thought for prayer.”

“Enough,” said the minister. “These things are revealed to babes and often hid from the wise and prudent. Go on, and pray without ceasing.”

To pray without ceasing is to improve every occasion by prayer, to pray with urgency and fire, and to keep our hearts in such a frame that we are ready at all times to pour out our soul before God. Learn to turn everything in life into a prayer to God.

3. Stir up your soul with the value of prayer, both unanswered and answered.

Seek to realize the value first of all unanswered prayer, and secondly, of answered prayer. William Bridge wrote, “A praying man can never be very miserable, whatever his condition be, for he has the ear of God; the Spirit within to indite [direct], a Friend in heaven to present, and God himself to receive his desires. Truly, it is a mercy to pray, even though I never receive the mercy prayed for.” God uses both silence and answers in His wisdom and providence to cause the Christian to grow in love for Him. This is a blessed thing for the Christian—that he may rest in God!

Learn also though to distinguish between delays in prayer and denials of prayer. Remember what Joseph Hall wrote: “Good prayers never come weeping back, for I am sure I shall receive either what I ask or what I should ask.” And remember what Spurgeon said to his students: “All our libraries and studies are mere emptiness compared with our closets.” Prayer has far more value than often we give it.

4. Plead with God upon His own Word and promises.

Show God His own Word. Use His Word as the foundation of your prayer, pleading His promises. William Gurnall said, “Prayer is nothing but the promise reversed, or God’s Word formed into an argument, and retorted by faith upon God again.” Be filled therefore with the Scriptures. Fill your mind and memory with the words of God, and this will stir up your soul to utter something worthwhile to God. Thomas Manton also encouraged: “One way to get comfort is to plead the promise of God in prayer; show Him His handwriting; God is tender of His Word.”

5. Confess your weakness in prayer, and rely on His sufficiency.

Finally, confess your weakness in prayer. “Lord teach us to pray”—this was the plea of the disciples. Ask the Lord to give you a spirit of prayerfulness. Pray to pray, as it were. The Father delights in this; the Spirit groans in this; and Christ pleads for this upon the merits of His own blood! May God grant strength in our weakness: “Teach us to pray.”