The following exerpt is merely a few powerful paragraphs from the second chapter of
Leonard Ravenhill’s Why Revival Tarries.
It’s a book you won’t be able to put down,
and it’s a book that’ll put you down on your knees.
**********
No man is greater than his prayer life.
The pastor who is not praying is playing;
the people who are not praying are straying.
The pulpit can be a shopwindow to display one’s talents;
the prayer closet allows no showing off.
Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things,
she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer.
We have many organizers, but few agonizers;
many players and payers, few pray-ers;
many singers, few clingers;
lots of pastors, few wrestlers;
many fears, few tears;
much fashion, little passion;
many interferers, few intercessors;
many writers, but few fighters.
Failing here, we fail everywhere.
(When you read this, if you were like me,
you thought of some Christian you know
for each criticism.
Then also be like me, go back and re-read this list,
thinking only of yourself.
Finney, another great revivalist preacher,
knew that revival starts with only one person –
we each are that one person.)
The secret of praying is praying in secret.
A sinning man will stop praying,
and a praying man will stop sinning.
We are beggared and bankrupt,
but not broken, nor even bent.
Prayer is profoundly simple and simply profound.
**********
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another,
Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Romans 12:12
…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer;
continuing steadfastly in prayer;
WOW! Very powerful reminder of the depth and the power of prayer. What a perfect encouragement for the new year, to purpose to be women of prayer. The book sound fantastic, one I must look into. Thank you for sharing this, I'm leaving blesed, convicted and encouraged!
Amen.
We all need this encouragment to improve our prayer life. I know I am guilty of setting it aside too often.
Very impacting! xxx