Since prayer is a very important exercise in the Christian’s life, I set forth the following comments to stir up a proper moral state of soul in addressing God.

It is imperative that my heart be in communion with Him, accompanied by obedience and a good conscience if my prayer is to be effectual (Heb. 13:18). Is there not sometimes unreality in our prayers? Do our prayers take the form of preaching, or quoting Bible doctrines, or reciting hymns, rather than utterances of expressed need with thanksgiving? Am I really speaking to God or to men? "If to God, surely nothing can be more irreverent or profane than to attempt to explain things to Him; but if to men, then it is not prayer at all" (C. H. Mackintosh in "Prayer and the Prayer Meeting").

"Do we not frequently give utterance to a whole host of things of which we do not feel the need, and which we have no notion of waiting for at all?" (ibid.) If we knew that only God was listening to us, perhaps we might change our way of praying. Be conscious that God is listening to you before you speak into His ear.

Jude 20 speaks of "praying in the Holy Ghost." If my prayer is to go above the ceiling of a room, it must be in the power of the Spirit borne on the wings of faith.

"Brief, fervent, pointed prayers impart freshness and interest to the prayer meetings" (ibid.). Although some may not take an audible part, their very presence at the prayer meeting, gathered with the saints in dependence upon God, greatly adds to the tone of the meeting. The tendency may be to think, "How little do I get out of the meeting?" Should I not rather ask, "What does God receive by my being there?"

I suggest also that at the start of each prayer meeting, requests be announced whether as to persons or other needs so that all may he informed, and definite prayer offered up. "The prayer meeting ought to be the place of expressed need and expected blessing_the place of expressed weakness and expected power" (ibid.)