Effort in Prayer
Mary Wilder Tileston encourages listeners to make a sincere effort to pray continually, even when it's hardest, and to trust that God sees their will to pray as the deed.
Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of Richard Chenevix Trench, Edward Meyrick Goulburn, and Charles H. Brent, emphasizes the importance of perseverance in prayer, even when distractions prevail or when it is difficult to raise one's mind to commune with God. The focus is on maintaining a continual readiness for prayer and praise, with a heart like an altar always prepared to ignite with the slightest spark of prayer. The message encourages believers to make a sincere effort to draw near to God, even in moments of dryness or heaviness, as God values the will to pray as much as the act itself.
Text
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same.
COLOSSIANS 4:2
BUT if distractions manifold prevail,
And if in this we must confess we fail,
Grant us to keep at least a prompt desire,
Continual readiness for prayer and praise,
An altar heaped and waiting to take fire
With the least spark, and leap into a blaze.
RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH
WHEN the set time comes round for prayer, it may be, and often is, the case that the mind is de-pressed, and finds it a hard struggle to raise itself up to communion with God. Your purpose is to hold communion with the Infinite Wisdom and Infinite Love; can you do this, or even attempt this, without coming away from the exercise brighter, calmer, hap-pier, stronger against evil? Make a vigorous effort to throw your whole soul into some very short petition, and the spirit of inertness and heaviness shall be ex-orcised. But if not, and thy mind be dry to the end, do not disquiet thyself. If only thou makest a sincere effort to draw near to God, all shall be well. He sees that thou hast a will to pray, and accounts the will for the deed.
EDWARD MEYRICK GOULBURN
Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray.
CHARLES H. BRENT
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Continual Prayer
- Overcoming Distractions in Prayer
- The Value of Persistent Prayer
- Praying hardest when it is hardest to pray
- The benefits of communion with God
Key Quotes
“Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Make a vigorous effort to throw your whole soul into some very short petition, and the spirit of inertness and heaviness shall be ex-orcised.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“An altar heaped and waiting to take fire With the least spark, and leap into a blaze.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Make a sincere effort to draw near to God in prayer, even when it's difficult.
- Remember that the will is accounted for the deed, and God sees your desire to pray.
- Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray, and experience the greatest benefits of communion with God.