There's Hope For TodaySample

How do great men pray? Wouldn’t you like to be able to tap into the prayers of Hudson Taylor for China? Wouldn’t it be fascinating to know what Martin Luther prayed just moments before his trial? I would like to know what Paul prayed just five minutes after Luke told him that Demas had disappeared. What did John pray on his second lonely day on Patmos?

I certainly won’t know any of the answers this side of heaven, but the Scripture is filled with recorded prayers offered by heroic saints. Paul’s recorded prayers are models for instruction. David’s prayers drip with human emotion. Solomon’s prayer, invoking God’s presence in the temple, should be a daily touchstone for all who love His presence. Elijah’s prayer shut up the heavens. Jesus’ instruction on prayer gives us a protocol for approaching God’s throne.

We have quite a library of prayer in the Scripture. Why, then, do we pray such lame and anemic prayers? Why do we ask for trinkets and baubles? It seems to me that we often pray without thinking. Could it be that we grow lazy in prayer? A college term paper receives our earnest attention and careful ordering. Should we not so order our prayers? After all, we have an audience before Heaven’s King.