Inspiring and Helpful Quotes on Prayer…

Do you sometimes need encouragement, motivation, perspective in prayer?  Here are some good quotes on prayer which I gathered on Twitter and around the blogosphere this week.  Some of these are from well known saints – Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, Corrie Ten Boom, George Herbert.  Others are excerpted from articles by current Christian authors and bloggers.

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Intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren.” C.H. Spurgeon  (from a blog entry at Anglican Pastor)

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Jesus’ intercession isn’t just a prayer that He prayed, but the life He lived. Everything that He said and did was not for Him, rather it was all for us! [….]. True intercession begins by following Jesus’ example of self-giving and then flows into fervent prayer for the lives of others.  (Dr. Winfield Bevins, in a blog entry at Anglican Pastor)

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…our conception of the strength we need differs from God’s. When we pray for strength, we may imagine the answer looking like increased capacities to accomplish or escape. But the strength that God supplies (1 Peter 4:11) is often increased capacities to trust his promises, which might require dying to our envisioned accomplishment or enduring what we wish to escape.  (Jon Bloom in an article at Desiring God: Praying for the strength that God supplies)

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Praying in faith comes from an abiding faith in the Person prayed to—the confidence is in Him. It is based on a knowledge of who He is, and on a trusted conviction that He is worthy to be trusted. Praying in faith is the act of a simple-hearted child of God. –  Corrie ten Boom  (posted by Pat Dague at Transfigurations)

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“Gospel work means staying put in the place of prayer as much as it means joining the front lines among the poor” – (the conclusion of a reflection by Anglican priest Jack King in Knoxville)

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“If I only pray in ideal conditions, I will rarely pray at all.” (a reflection about learning to fight distractions in prayer, from Knoxville priest Jack King)

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“No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack.” – EM Bounds (author of many books on prayer, Tweeted by SIM International as part of the #PraytoendEbola campaign)

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“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” George Herbert (1593 – 1633) (Tweeted by World Mission Prayer League)

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Come boldly, O believer, for despite the whisperings of Satan and the doubtings of thine own heart, thou art greatly beloved. —CH Spurgeon (Tweeted by Lore Ferguson)

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“Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.” Martin Luther  (Tweeted by Operation World as part of the #PraytoendEbola campaign)

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“When my fears are turned to prayers, the burdens slip away.” -Eliza E. Hewitt (1851-1920 Hymn writer – one of her hymns was Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus) (Tweeted by Explore God)

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“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart.” Martin Luther (Tweeted by LighttheWindow)

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“I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Martin Luther (Tweeted by SIM International as part of the #PraytoendEbola campaign)

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“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelism.” Andrew Murray (Tweeted by SIM International as part of the #PraytoendEbola campaign)

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Can violent terrorists be saved? Ask Paul, who used to be Saul. Nothing is impossible with God.  (Tweeted by Global Serve as part of a prayer campaign for the Middle East)

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God we pray for perseverance in what you have called us to do and for strength of faith to guide us when we don’t see the way.  (Tweeted by Frontiers USA as part of their DailyPrayer series)

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God we pray for a faith today that is active & living. We ask for the courage to go to the people & places you would send us.  (Tweeted by Frontiers USA as part of their DailyPrayer series)

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God give us ears that listen for your direction in our lives, & hearts that are open, saying “Yes, I will follow!”  (Tweeted by Frontiers USA as part of their DailyPrayer series)