"PRAY WITHOUT CEASING"

The prince of preachers, CH. Spurgeon, preached to his Metropolitan Congregation in London; “Pray without ceasing” 1Thess 5:17. Having Read the sermon, the dryness of my heart caused by prayerlessness was exposed. There is nothing sad for a believer than a prayer-less life. Not only does one surfer from being dry and patched but in a moment quickly slips into a state of hopelessness, laziness and weariness. Before long one is found walking with the ungodly, standing with sinners and finally sited with the mockers of God.

For your encouragement, I have gleaned sweet grains from this sermon that I will in a few words share with you. CH Spurgeon has answered four questions in an outstanding fashion. As usual this man has never ceased to amazing me with his grasp of the scriptures. Of the four, “How can we obey these words?” has been answered clearer. Here are the nuggets:

Work as much as you can to prevent all sinful interruptions to prayer. Endeavour to keep away, as far as you can anything and everything in you and around, that would prevent your thriving in entreaty.

Avoid all unnecessary interruption of every sort to your prayers. If you know that any matter, from which you can escape, has a tendency to disturb the spirit of prayer within you, avoid it earnestly. A Mrs. Rowe once said “Though the twelve apostles were preaching in London during my prayer time I would not be bribed out of my closet”

Sometimes we think that prayer is a waste of time; we are too busy to pray. A great and grievous mistake on our part! The truth is, praying saves time. God does multiply our ability to make use of time. If we give the Lord his due, we shall have enough for all necessary purposes. In this matter seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Your other engagements will run smoothly if you do not forget your engagement with God.

Shun, above all things, laziness and indifference in prayer. You should not insult the majesty of God with words born from your lazy heart. Be serious; come not away from the mercy seat till thou hast prayed!

Take care to fight against anything like misery of not being heard. If you have not been heard after six times, like Elijah, go again the seventh time! Be importunate, like the widow before the wicked judge. Heaven’s gates at times seem to be prayer proof. Knock, and knock, and knock again; and add to thy knocking and to thy asking seeking, and be not satisfied till you get an answer.

Lastly, never cease from prayer through presumption; guard against it. Always feel the need to pray! Say not “I am rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing” remember your nature that thou art still naked, and poor, and miserable; therefore, persevere in prayer.

In case your heart has lingered long in prayerlessness and you have been sad about it, please do care to apply these few nuggets and see the freshness praying without ceasing will bring!