My Favorite Books on Prayer: Prayer That Availeth Much by T. M. Anderson

Pam 2

MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY
BY T. M. ANDERSON

I was teaching in the department of religious studies in Asbury College when I entered into the covenant of prayer with Christ. It had been my purpose for several months to prepare some written messages on the Epistle of Hebrews. In order to have time to devote to this work it was necessary for me to arise early in the morning and do the writing before the hour I was scheduled to meet my classes. I began this work during the first week of 1950.
I was suddenly awakened about midnight on January sixth. Knowing that I had a full day of work before me, I felt it necessary to sleep a few hours lest I be too weary in mind and body to do the writing and teaching. At that moment the Savior spoke to me. He asked me if I were willing to sacrifice some sleep in order to give Him an opportunity to speak with me in the quiet hours of the morning. He told me that it was necessary to deny myself of sleep in order to prevail in prayer. I realized for the first time that denying myself of sleep was a form of fasting. For five hours I waited before the Lord in sacred worship and holy communion. My soul was greatly revived, and I felt refreshed in mind and rested in body.
After this remarkable manifestation of the savior I was constrained to examine my prayer life. I was impressed to consider the time spent in prayer during the average day. I was humbled before the Lord when I discovered how little time had been given to Him in prayer and meditation. It had been my daily practice from the day I was saved to spend some time in prayer morning and evening. I had established the family altar in my home. I had spent time in secret prayer during the years of my ministry. I had never knowingly overlooked the importance of prayer. I am now aware that I had never discovered the possibilities in prayer like they were revealed to me when I waited five delightful hours before the Savior that memorable morning.

T.M. Andersn

Are You Surprised When Your Prayers are Answered?

Surprise

To the man or woman who is acquainted with God and who knows how to pray, there is nothing remarkable in the answers that come. They are sure of being heard since they ask in accordance with what they know to be the mind and will of God.

Through the gateway of prayer, we find our way into the Father’s presence. We see His face, and we know that all is well, since His hand is at the helm of events, and “even the winds and the sea obey Him” (Matt. 8:27). When we live in fellowship with Him, we come with confidence into His presence, asking in full confidence of receiving and meeting with the justification of our faith. (See Hebrews 4:16)

E. M. Bounds

A Solemn Confession and Warning

Warning

Warning: We Pray Too Little

Everywhere people confess, “We pray too little!” Yet there seems to be a fear that, because of pressure from work and the force of habit, it is almost impossible to hope for a change. Such thinking can only hinder our own joy and our power in God’s service.

What a solemn confession and warning: we pray too little! Is the call of God for our time and attention more important than our work and our service to Him? If God is waiting to meet us and to give us power from heaven for His work, it is shortsighted to put other work in His place? If there is to be significant experience of God’s presence, there must be more definite and persevering prayer.

Andrew Murray circa 1880

The Fire that Consumes

Holy Spirit fire

The Fire that Consumes

Prayer has an incredible power to arrest and change the purposes of God. The prayers of righteous men relieve the stroke of His power. We can witness both the possibilities and the necessity of prayer when we see how the prayer of God’s saints brought about a change in God’s plans.

-Abraham prayed and God healed Abimeleck, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare Children.
-Jonah prayed and Nineveh prayed and God’s decree against the city was changed.
-Moses prayed forty-days and nights and God’s anger was kindled against Aaron to not destroy him.
-Hezekiah prayed and God added fifteen years to his life.

All of these people knew how to pray and how to prevail in prayer. Everything is possible to men and women who know how to pray, and it is still possible today.

E.M. Bounds

The Ministry of the Interior Part II

AbidingThe Ministry of the Interior Part II

Am I fulfilling the ministry of the interior?

Provoking Thoughts on Prayer

There is no snare or any danger of infatuation or pride in intercession, it is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit whereby the Father is glorified. It is the interior ministry. Am I allowing my spiritual life to be frittered away, or am I bringing it all to one center—Jesus? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life?

I must take time to realize the central point of power in my interior. Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate upon it? Do I take time to abide? Is the greatest factor of power in my life work, service, and sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? We must be determined to be limited and concentrate our affinities. The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God’s foreordained decrees.

Oswald Chambers