Two things are essential to the nurture and maintenance of a fresh and healthy state of soul in the
believer:the reading of the Word, and prayer. We cannot afford to neglect either the one or the
other if we desire that our hearts and lives may answer to the grace bestowed upon us. If the
reading of the Word be neglected, there will be the danger of our prayers becoming the expression
of mere natural desires instead of "intercession according to the will of God." We need to have
our desires for even spiritual blessings formed in the atmosphere of the Word, in fellowship with
the Lord Himself, and by the power of the Spirit; where this is lacking, and the more earnest the
soul is, the more danger will there be of a zeal that is not according to knowledge.

An opposite danger on the other hand is that the reading of the Word without prayer tends to a
spirit of intellectual ism, ending in a cold, barren state of soul in which there is neither power nor
joy, but abundance of spiritual pride. There is nothing more deadly to spiritual vitality than to
have the mind occupied with divine truth while the heart and conscience remain strangers to its
power; and this is sure to be the case just in proportion) as prayer is neglected. There can be no
sure and more certain sign of a low, unhealthy state than the absence of prayer, and there can be
no better proof that a man is "filled with the Spirit" than to know that he gives himself
"continually to prayer."

Let us consider Him, our blessed Example and Pattern. He commenced, carried on, and ended
His ministry with prayer.

We read of Him praying at the time of His baptism (Luke 3:21). Again, "And he withdrew
himself into the wilderness, and prayed" (Luke 5:16). "He went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12). "He was alone praying" (Luke 9:18). "He took
Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28). "He was praying
in a certain place" (Luke 11:1). "He . . . kneeled down, and prayed" (Luke 22:41). "He prayed
more earnestly" (Luke 22:44). Finally, at the very close of His perfect and obedient life, amidst
the agonies of the cross, He prays for His enemies (Luke 23:34).

Consider Paul, who has exhorted us to be followers of him, even as he also was of Christ. When
we think of his incessant labors, involving great hardship and difficulty too, in connection with
the ministry of the Word, while pursuing at the same time, when necessary, his trade as a tent
maker, we almost wonder how he found any time for prayer. As we read his epistles, however,
it seems as though he did indeed "pray without ceasing." Out of many instances, see for example,
Eph. 1:16, Col. 1:9, 2 Thess. 1:11, 2 Tim. 1:3.

Remember the repeated exhortations of the Word:"Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints." "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God." "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men." "Continuing instant in prayer." "Continue in prayer, and
watch in the same with thanksgiving." "Brethren, pray for us." "Praying in the Holy Ghost."
"Pray without ceasing."

Think of the blessed results that have ever followed the expression of dependence upon God in
united or individual prayer. The Pentecostal baptism with the Holy Ghost took place at the close
of ten days spent in continued prayer and supplication. The disciples were filled with the Holy
Ghost, and made bold to speak the Word of God "when they had prayed" (Acts 4:31). The angel
of the Lord delivered Peter from prison in answer to the prayer which "was made without ceasing
of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5).

Scripture is full of instances of the prevalence of prayer. 2 Chron. 32:20 and Jas. 5:17,18 are
conspicuous examples. And, without doubt, when the history of the church is surveyed from the
Glory, it will be seen that every wave of blessing to saints and salvation to sinners has been
preceded by the effectual fervent prayers of many whose labors are better known in heaven than
on earth. Men and women like Epaphras (Col. 4:12), and Anna (Luke 2:37), who have prevailed
with God in their closets, and like Jabez (I Chron. 4:10), have had granted to them that which they
requested.

Again (and, beloved brethren, I would press this upon you with all the earnestness of which I am
capable) meditate upon the unspeakable need of the present moment. Look at the appalling
condition of the church of God. That which was the wondrous subject of His counsels long before
the world’s foundations were laid_destined to be the magnificent display of His glory to admiring
myriads of His unfallen creatures in ages yet to come_is even now, in spite of its ruin, the object
of His unceasing solicitude and His measureless love.

Oh, brethren, think of the Church! Torn asunder by a hundred factions; paralyzed by a practical
infidelity; stupefied by the deadening influence of an indifference to Christ, which is as general
as it is deplorable; bound hand and foot by tradition, organization, and human arrangement;
desolated by worldliness; and shorn of that heavenly aspect and beauty which is her own peculiar
portion, she nevertheless vaunts herself in the midst of her ruin, and is ready to say, with the
apostate whore, "I sit a queen, and am no widow.” Awful picture!

Then consider the state of individual souls. How few of those quickened by divine grace have
settled peace with God! How few are personally in the enjoyment of the liberty wherewith Christ
makes free! How many doubts and fears are entertained by God’s people, to their own loss and
His dishonor! Dear brethren, can we cease to pray?

Lastly, remember that God is gathering out His elect by the preaching of the Word, and ours is
the blessed privilege of interceding for the salvation of the lost. The consideration of the realities
of heaven and hell, a perishing world, a loving God, a waiting Saviour, and a world-wide gospel,
surely should constrain us to more prayer.

The word is, "Praying always," by which I understand that a believer, though not always in the
act, should always be in the spirit of prayer. His state is one of constant dependence, therefore,
his spirit should be that of constant prayer. But there are special seasons when, either alone or
with others, the soul turns aside from all else to have to do with God Himself, and pour out its
desires and requests to Him.

In conclusion, I would beseech you to seize every opportunity of thus continuing instant in prayer.