Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?Moody, Dwight Lyman
Religion
Prevailing Prayer: What Hinders It?
Moody, Dwight Lyman
Christian life; Prayer -- Christianity
The latter words were spoken in the third year of His ministry. Three
years the disciples had been with Him; they had listened to the words
that fell from His lips; yet they had failed to learn this lesson of
humility. The most humiliating thing that happened among the chosen
twelve occurred on the night of our Lord’s betrayal, when Judas sold
Him, and Peter denied Him. If there was any place where there should
have been an absence of these thoughts, it was at the Supper-table.
Yet we find that when Christ instituted that blessed memorial there
was a debate going on among His disciples who should be the greatest.
Think of that!--right under the Cross, when the Master was “exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death;” was already tasting the bitterness of
Calvary, and the horrors of that dark hour were gathering upon His soul.
I think if God searches us, we will find a good many things in our
lives for us to confess. If we are tried and tested by God’s law, there
will be many, many things that will have to be changed. I ask again:
Are we selfish or jealous? Are we willing to hear of others being used
of God more than we are? Are our Methodist friends willing to hear of a
great revival of God’s work among the Baptists? Would it rejoice their
souls to hear of such efforts being blessed? Are Baptists willing to
hear of a reviving of God’s work in the Methodist, Congregational, or
other churches? If we are full of narrow, party and sectarian feelings,
there will be many things to be laid aside. Let us pray to God to
search us, and try us, and see if there be any evil way in us. If these
holy and good men felt that they were faulty, should we not tremble,
and endeavor to find out if there is anything in our lives that God
would have us get rid of?
Once again, let me call your attention to the prayer of David contained
in the fifty-first Psalm. A friend of mine told me some years ago
that he repeated this prayer as his own every week. I think it would
be a good thing if we offered up these petitions frequently; let them
go right up from our hearts. If we have been proud, or irritable, or
lacking in patience, shall we not at once confess it? Is it not time
that we began at home, and got our lives straightened out? See how
quickly the ungodly will then begin to inquire the way of life! Let
those of us who are parents set our own houses in order, and be filled
with Christ’s Spirit; then it will not be long before our children will
be inquiring what they must do to get the same Spirit. I believe that
to-day, by its lukewarmness and formality, the Christian Church is
making more infidels than all the books that infidels ever wrote. I do
not fear infidel lectures half so much as the cold and dead formalism
in the professing church at the present time. One prayer-meeting like
that the disciples had on the day of Pentecost, would shake the whole
infidel fraternity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account