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Pastor's Blog September 17, 2020
"The Privilege of Prayer III"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Last week we looked at the first four principles of "prevailing prayer" that Ellen mentions in "Steps to Christ" (66; 1977 edition). This week we will examine the next three elements of a substantial prayer life.
The fifth principle of regular, prevailing prayer is perseverance (67). There are several places where the Bible talks about persevering in prayer, and the two ideas these passages have in mind are a) being diligent to make time for prayer and b) being intentional about praying with other Christians, your family, and even spending considerable time in prayer alone with God (67-68).
Related to this element, the sixth principle of prayer is to "pray in your closet" (68). Ellen doesn't have in mind a literal closet; instead, she indicates that the "prayer closet" means you can pray anywhere and anytime (69). Whatever your environment - whether you're surrounded by lots of people and find yourself in a busy place; or the people around you are uncouth and create an atmosphere disruptive of spiritual encouragement; or even if you are all by yourself in a quiet place - you can always talk to God and shut yourself up in his presence, abiding in Jesus and letting him imbue your life with his love and power (68-69).
These two prayer principles naturally lead to the seventh element of prevailing prayer: having "more distinct views of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of the value of eternal realities (69). What Ellen has in mind with this principle is what Christians have historically called "practicing the presence of God": basically, living our lives with a sense that God is not only with us, but that his presence is empowering, transforming, and guiding us in everything we say, do, and think throughout our daily acitivites. There's nothing mystical about this, as Ellen's advice demonstrates: "let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere" (69).
As you can see, this is all of God's doing; the only thing we do in this aspect of prayer is assent to what God is already doing in our lives to draw us out and upward toward himself and his love for us (69).
Friends, I am sure you experienced the blessing of practicing the first four prayer principles last week. I invite you to practice the above three throughout this next week.
(*) Steps to Christ, Chapter 11— The Privilege of Prayer, 1977 edition
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
