Practical Prayer Helps

The College of Prayer is a ministry based in Georgia that has as its purpose: “Mentoring pastors and leaders to reach a lost world through a revived church.”

Their resources are valuable to encourage and equip all who desire a more dynamic prayer life.

They have a Ignite Conference scheduled for September 12-14, 2024. Here is a promotional video:

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Pastor Fred Hartley also produces The Kingdom Leadership Podcast.

Their Revival Now Media app features video resources, audio resources, and printed materials, “leading people to a fresh encounter with Christ and equipping them to live lives empowered by the Holy Spirit.”

For more information, visit www.collegeofprayer.org/

                         from THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN

                        By "AN UNKNOWN CHRISTIAN"

“Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John xiv. 13, 14).

This was something quite new, for our Lord said so. “Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name,” but now, “ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John xvi. 24).

Five times over our Lord repeats this simple condition, “In my name” (John xiv. 13, 14; xv. 16; xvi. 23, 24, 26). Evidently something very important is here implied. It is more than a condition–it is also a
promise, an encouragement, for our Lord’s biddings are always His enablings. What, then, does it mean to ask in His name? We must know this at all costs, for it is the secret of all power in prayer…

(1) There is a sense in which some things are done only “for Christ’s sake”–because of His atoning death. Those who do not believe in the atoning death of Christ cannot pray “in His name.” They may use the words, but without effect. For we are “justified by His blood” (Rom. v. 9), and “we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. i. 7; Col. i. 14)….

(2) The most familiar illustration of coming “in the name” of Christ is that of drawing money from a bank by means of a check. I can draw from my bank account only up to the amount of my deposit there. In my own name, I can go no farther. In the Bank of England I have no money whatsoever, and can therefore draw nothing therefrom. But suppose a very wealthy man who has a big account there gives me a blank check bearing his signature, and bids me fill it in to any amount I choose. He is my friend. What shall I do? Shall I just satisfy my present need, or shall I draw as much as I dare? I shall certainly do nothing to offend my friend, or to lower myself in his esteem. Well, we are told by some that heaven is our bank. God is the Great Banker, for “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father” (James i. 17)….

But He bids us to remember that we should ask only for those things that are according to His will–only for that which will bring glory to His name. John says, “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (I John v. 14). So then our Friend gives us a blank check, and leaves us to fill in “anything”; but He knows that if we truly love Him we shall never put down–never ask for–things He is not willing to give us, because they would be harmful to us…

(3) But even now we have not exhausted the meaning of those words, “In my Name.” We all know what it is to ask for a thing “in the name” of another. But we are very careful not to allow anyone to use our name who is not to be trusted, or he might abuse our trust and discredit our name….The great Heavenly Banker will not cash checks for us if our motives are not right. Is not this why so many fail in prayer? Christ’s name is the revelation of His character.

To pray “in His name” is to pray in His character, as His representative sent by Him: it is to pray by His Spirit and according to His will; to have His approval in our asking, to seek what He seeks, to ask help to do what He Himself would wish to be done, and to desire to do it not for our own glorification, but for His glory alone. To pray “in His name” we must have identity of interests and purpose. Self and its aims and desires must be entirely controlled by God’s Holy Spirit, so that our wills are in complete harmony with Christ’s will.

We must reach the attitude of St. Augustine when he cried, “O Lord, grant that I may do Thy will as if it were my will, so that Thou mayest do my will as if it were Thy will.”…

Child of God, does this seem to make prayer “in His name” quite beyond us? That was not our Lord’s intention. He is not mocking us! Speaking of the Holy Spirit our Lord used these words: “The Comforter . . . Whom the Father will send in my name” (John xiv. 26). Now, our Savior wants us to be so controlled by the Holy Spirit that we may act in Christ’s name. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. viii. 14). And only sons can say, “Our Father.”

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From The Kneeling Christian, Chapter 6 “How Shall I Pray?” This is available for free download here.

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;  meanwhile praying also for us…
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. 4:2,3,12).

O. Hallesby observed two hindrances to prayer with a reminder of the enablement to pray effectively.

“There are things in us which are a hindrance to our prayers. These hindrances are what the Spirit of prayer points out to us.

“First and foremost there is our selfishness. We live and move and such a narrow circle that the Spirit of prayer cannot create in our hearts true zeal for others. However, the Spirit can convict us of this sin. And as soon as I acknowledge my selfish and indifference, He will save me from it.”

“Secondly, there is our love of ease. That is why Jesus admonishes us to watch and pray. The apostle Paul speaks of it as striving in prayer. To strive in prayer means to be so watchful at all times that we can notice when we become slothful in prayer and go to the Spirit of prayer to have this remedied.[1]

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26,27).

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[1] O. Hallesby, Prayer (IVF, 1948) 85.

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 These 5:17

The instruction to pray “always” does not mean we are to neglect the ordinary duties of life; what it means is that:

• the soul which has come into intimate contact with God in the silence of the prayer room is never out of conscious touch with the Father;
• that the heart is always going out to Him, and loving communion;
• and that the moment the mind is released from the task upon which it is engaged it returns as naturally to God as the bird does to its nest.

What a beautiful conception of prayer we get if we regarded it in this light, if we view it as fellowship, an unbroken audience with the King. Prayer then loses every vestige of dread which it may once have possessed; we regard it no longer has a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege which is to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.” F. B. Meyer.

May our Christian walk be characterized by an attitude of conversation with God.

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” Psalm 5:3

by W. E. Sangster

Practice the presence of God! Hold fellowship with him! Even in business, or in the midst of daily toil, often lift your heart for a moment into the atmosphere of his presence. Our business is the absolute surrender of our heart to him.

On waking—turn your mind at once to him. If you wake slowly, let each step to wakefulness be a step towards him.  Address to him your first words of the day. Say in your heart, “I am here, Lord, and eager for another day.”

Cultivate the custom of linking your Lord and yourself with “we.” “What are we going to do together today, Lord?” If it seems too familiar at first, remember that he encourages such intimacy. It is beyond our understanding why he should want to live in our soiled hearts, but he does. Say “we.”

Glance ahead at the day. “We are going to do everything together today, Lord.” See yourself going through the day with him. Meet every known duty and thought with him before you meet it (still with him) in reality. “We must make the most of that opportunity, Lord.” “We must be particularly watchful there, Lord.”

Then rise with zest, and begin your day.

W. E. Sangster
Quoted in The Prayer Adventure. Ed. Jean Watson