chapterFOUR: prayer

[personal] A week after a nice Memorial Day weekend in the mountains, I've really let myself go in discipline and have already felt the heavy weight of sin accumulating in my soul. The day we returned to life as we know it, I wrote a sobering quote from Ryle's chapter on prayer on my bedroom mirror: "Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer." May I be fervent in holy desires and faithfulness in God's awesome sovereignty.

[Ryle]
Prayer: the MOST IMPORTANT subject in practical religion



1) Absolutely needful to a man's salvation
2) A habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian
3) There is no duty in religion so neglected as private prayer
4) Prayer is that act in religion to which there is greatest encouragement
    a) God has made prayer easy: "All things are ready" on His side (Luke 14:17)
    b) There is a way: by which any man, however sinful and unworthy, may draw near to God: Jesus Christ
    c) There is the advocate and intercessor: Jesus Christ
    d) There is the Holy Spirit:
        "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
         for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
         but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
         --Romans 8:26
    e) There are exceeding great and precious promises to those who pray (Matthew 21:22, John 14:13)
        "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
    f) There are wonderful examples in Scripture about the power of prayer
5) Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness
6) Neglect of prayer is one great cause of backsliding
7) Prayer is one of the best receipts for happiness and contentment


Parting words to:

• Those who do not pray: you are in a position of fearful danger if death were to come upon you
• It is useless to say:
• you know not how to pray
• you have no convenient place to pray in
• you have no time
• you cannot pray till you have faith and a new heart
• Those who have real desire for salvation: go to the Lord Jesus Christ this very day in the first private place you can find. Tell him in your own way and words. If your soul relaly feels its disease you can surely find something to tell Christ. Doubt not His willingness to save you. It is Christ's office to save sinners (Luke 1:32). Wait not. Fear not.
• Those who do pray:
• Importance of reverence & humility in prayer
• Importance of praying spiritually
• Importance of making prayer a regular business in life
• Importance of perseverance in prayer
• Importance of earnestness sin prayer
• Importance of praying with faith
• Importance of boldness in prayer
• Importance of fullness in prayer
• Importance of particularity in prayer
• Importance of intercession in prayer
• Importance of thankfulness in prayer
• Importance of watchfulness over your prayer

Ryle, J. C. "Prayer." 2009. Practical Religion. Carlisle: Banner of Truth, 1998. 63-96. Print.