THE PARADOX OF PRAYER

“Prayer is a paradox. No spiritual exercise is such a blending of complexity and simplicity.

• It is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try, yet the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high.
• It is as appropriate to the aged philosopher as to the little child.
• It is the ejaculation of a moment and the attitude of a lifetime.
• It is the expression of the rest of faith and of the fight of faith.
• It is an agony and an ecstasy.
• It is submissive and yet importunate.
• In one moment it lays hold of God and binds the devil.
• It can be focused on a single objective and it can roam the world.
• It can be abject confession and rapt adoration.
• It invests puny man with a sort of omnipotence.

Small wonder, then, that even its greatest exponent and example was forced to admit, “We do not even know how we ought to pray.” But he was swift to add, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness…Through our inarticulate groans the Spirit Himself is pleading for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means, because He pleads for God’s own people in God’s own way” (Rom. 8:26-28, New English Bible).  

Our Lord left us in no doubt of the part prayer was to play in the missionary enterprise. He clearly placed it on a prayer basis in the memorable words: “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). Paul and Barnabas set out on the first missionary journey to the accompaniment of prayer and fasting (Acts 13: 2-4). Ever since, the missionary cause has advanced upon its knees. Where prayer has been prevailing, it has prospered. Where prayer has been lukewarm, it has languished.”