I have been challenged about my prayer life recently as I have been reading in the book of Daniel. David Jeremiah, in his “Turning Points” devotional notes, had this to say.

Few Agonizers:

“Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary…” Daniel 9:17.

In his book, “Why Revival Tarries”, the late preacher Leonard Ravenhill wrote of the prayerlessness of many churches. “We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters.

Failing here, we fail everywhere.”

If you want to see a man of God in prayer, look at the ninth chapter of Daniel. He set his face toward the Lord to make requests by prayer and supplication in great humility and prolonged earnestness. He confessed his sins and those of his people. He pleaded for mercy, begging for God’s “face to shine” on His sanctuary.

How could we improve our life of prayer? Could we take a little more time, be a little more specific, pray a little more frequently? What about devoting an entire hour to prayer, or a morning, or a day?

Lord, teach us to pray!

“No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.” Leonard Ravenhill.

Contributed by David McMillan