"What is the cause of most backslidings? I believe, as a general rule, one of the chief causes is neglect of private prayer." --J.C. Ryle
Earlier this month, I recieved an e-mail with this quote in it. As I read it, I almost felt ashamed. After all, how often do I pray? At least twice a day, when I wake up and go to bed--if my thinking is clear enough in the morning, and if I remember at night. However, even Jesus--God Himself in human form--highly valued prayer.
In the Gospel of Luke, it says "[...] the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (5:15-16) Think about this! If Jesus valued prayer to the Father so much--if He used it as communication within the Trinity--then how much more should I prize it?! How much more important should I consider it as access to the divine will and power of God? Yet how frequently do I get distracted while praying, or simply say "ThankyouLordamen"?
J. C. Ryle said this in his book Thoughts For Young Men:
Earlier this month, I recieved an e-mail with this quote in it. As I read it, I almost felt ashamed. After all, how often do I pray? At least twice a day, when I wake up and go to bed--if my thinking is clear enough in the morning, and if I remember at night. However, even Jesus--God Himself in human form--highly valued prayer.
In the Gospel of Luke, it says "[...] the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (5:15-16) Think about this! If Jesus valued prayer to the Father so much--if He used it as communication within the Trinity--then how much more should I prize it?! How much more important should I consider it as access to the divine will and power of God? Yet how frequently do I get distracted while praying, or simply say "ThankyouLordamen"?
J. C. Ryle said this in his book Thoughts For Young Men:
I dare not lay down too strict rules on such points as these. I leave them to your own conscience. You must be guided by circumstances.How often do I pray? And how often do I pause and appreciate the chance to come close to God? How often am I thankful for being able to speak to the One Who Hears my prayers? Oh Lord, help me to realize the importance of my prayer life with You and to grow closer to Your Son. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed on a mountain;
Isaac prayed in the fields;
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall as he lay upon his bed;
Daniel prayed by the riverside;
Peter, the Apostle, on the housetop.
I have heard of young men praying in stables and haylofts. All that I contend for is this, you must know what it is to "go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen" (Matthew 6:6).
There must be stated times when you must speak to God face to face, you must every day have your times for prayer — You must pray. (Kindle edition, locations 668-673; quote from another e-mail)
It's great to set aside a block of time to talk with God--necessary to do on a regular basis. But sometimes life really is crazy enough that it's difficult to do that. Another way to think about prayer is like we've got an open phone connection to Him and we can speak at any time. Or like we're on a long trip together an we can break the silence at any time. God loves the long, extended prayer times with Him, but He also wants us to come to Him at any time with any issue, concern, or praise. And the best time to do it is when you think of it. So if you're driving to work and happen to think abut a particular person, pray right then and there (just don't close your eyes, please!). If you feel God convict you about something, or He answers a prayer for you, or you need His wisdom, ask right then and there.
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