Let’s PraySample

Press into Prayer

The launch of the New Testament church and all of Christian history can only be understood through the lens of powerful prayer. Christian missionaries have understood the power of prayer. The greatest Christian missionaries of all time were also men and women of prayer.

Hudson Taylor had an unprecedented impact on China in the 1800s, resulting in his establishing orphanages. He founded 125 schools and introduced thousands of people to Christ. In The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor, the book written by his son, Howard Taylor, he revealed that his father had obediently walked closely with God in prayer. “For 40 years,” he wrote, “The sun never rose in China a single day that God didn’t find [Hudson] on his knees.”

In England, a humble man named George Mueller led the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He took care of more than 10,000 orphans throughout his life. He would pray in secret and watch God move and provide in public. When he died, his diary revealed details of answered prayer. His example and teaching on prayer have blessed millions around the world.

England’s great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, wrote extensively on the power of prayer. When visitors came to his New Park Street church, he would walk them down to the basement prayer room, where hundreds of people were faithfully on their knees, interceding for Spurgeon’s ministry in the community. Spurgeon would declare, “Here is the powerhouse of this church.”

In the same way, there is power for each of us to pray powerful prayers. Maybe you’ve prayed general prayers like, “Thank You, Lord, for this food. Be with Timmy as he walks to school today. Grant me a good day.” That’s good. That’s a start; praise the Lord. God is pleased with such prayers, to an extent. But we can press in a little more.

God wants us to pray big, bold, specific prayers, ones that will make Him move and that require His power. Do we believe that God is a big God? We talk a big game. We say we trust God. Our prayers should match our theology. God is able to move mountains, to do the impossible. Actually, impossible is where God starts. There is no issue that prayer cannot address because there is no issue that God cannot handle.