Prayer

It is lighening, not thunder that kills (illustration)

A noted clergyman was asked by a colleague why the loud, vehement praying of his earlier days had given way to a more quiet, persuasive manner of speech. The man laughed. “When I was young,” he said, “I thought it was the thunder that killed people, but when I grew …

Mueller Known For His Powerful Prayer Life (illustration)

George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer life. Once while on his way to speak in Quebec for an engagement. he informed the captain that he needed to be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon...

The Last Prayer of John Knox (illustration)

While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said, “Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor.” After he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17, he seemed to forget his weakness. H …

CHRISTIANS PRAY AND BAR BURNS (illustration)

A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,” but then a local businessman decided to build a tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene. It just so happened that …

Havner - “A little talk with Jesus” (illustration)

Many a man who would never think of dashing out in the morning without his breakfast, his vitamins and his briefcase, plunges headlong into a perilous day with an unprepared soul. “A little talk with Jesus” readies the body, the mind and the spirit for whatever comes. ( …

Boy With His Father Gives a Silent Prayer (illustration)

A friend of mine took his small son with him to town one day to run some errands. When lunchtime arrived, the two of them went to a familiar diner for a sandwich. The father sat down on one of the stools at the counter and lifted the boy up to the seat beside him. They ord …

200 Met Every Service to Pray For Their Pastor (illustration)

Dr. Wilbur Chapman often told of his experience when, as a young man, he went to become pastor of a church in Philadelphia. After his first sermon, an old gentleman said to him, “You’re pretty young to be pastor of this church. But you preach the Gospel, and I’m going to hel …

Dwight L. Moody Never Let a Meeting Get Out of Hand (illustration)

Dwight L Moody had a practical mind that never let a meeting get out of hand. Long public prayer particularly irritated him. Once he told his song leader, Sankey, “Lead us in a hymn while our brother is finishing his prayer.” (George Sweeting - in his book “Who Sai …

Booth: Remedy for a Troubled Heart (illustration)

Work as if everything depends on us and pray as if everything depends on Him. One of the best remedies for a troubled heart is prayer. (William Booth). …

A young Christian asks prayer for patience (illustration)

A young man, a Christian, went to an older believer to ask for prayer. “Will you please pray that I may be more patient?” he asked. The aged saint agreed. They knelt together and the man began to pray, “Lord, send this young man tribulation in the morning; send …

A Morning Prayer for Help (illustration)

I came across a little prayer in a magazine, headed: “A Morning Prayer for Help” - note that I said “morning"! “Dear God, so far today I’ve done alright, I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, been nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes God, …

No One can Argue against Prayer! (J.S.Baxter) (illustration)

“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, ...

Wiersbe: No Shortcust for Revival (illustration)

There are no shortcuts when it comes to revival. The church desperately needs revival, but it is not going to come by quick and easy methods. Evan Roberts prayed for eleven years before the Welsh Revival broke out, and his ministry during that remarkable time broke him physically …

The Need For Revival (illustration)

There are no shortcuts when it comes to revival. The church desperately needs revival, but it is not going to come by easy methods. Evan Roberts prayed eleven years before the Welsh Revival broke out, and his ministry during that remarkable time broke him physically. More than on …

Swindoll - Lady Who Prayed For Me in Seminary (illustration)

During our seminary days, my wife and I had a dear lady in our home church by the name of Aunt Mae. She was in touch with us regularly to ask us what our needs were. And she would say, “Now you’re accountable to me. I’m praying for you. And I need to know how you’re doing.&q …

How Children Often Pray (illustration)

Dear God: Please send a new baby. The one you sent last week cries too much. - Debbie, 7Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. - Jimmy, 6Dear God: Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any.- Angela, 8Dear Lo …

My Mother Who Prayed For Me (illustration)

I cannot tell you how much I owe to the prayers of my godly mother. I believe that it was in answer to her prayers that I came to know Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour while on a troop ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, serving in the United States army. She knew tha …

When God Answers Prayer It is Hard to Keep Quiet (illustration)

When God answers prayer it is hard to keep quiet about it. A story is told of a man who borrowed money from a widow lady, promising to invest it safely and at good interest. This man not only made poor investments with the money but failed to pay any interest to the lady. The onl …

Vance Havner Develops His Wife’s Picture (illustration)

The late Vance Havner told a story of how he had taken a picture of his wife about two years before her death. After her death, he remembered that he still had the roll of film in his camera so he had it developed. As he looked at the pictures, there she was smiling at him out of …

Theodore Monod Tells a Friend About Christ (illustration)

Theodore Monod was once telling a little friend about Christ healing blind Bartimaeus. (Mark 10:46- 52) “And what,” said he to the boy, “would you have asked from Jesus if you had been blind?” “Oh,” said the child, with glowing face and kindling eyes, …

The Parrot said - "Let’s Kiss” (illustration)

There was a pastor who had a parrot. All the parrot would say was, “Let’s pray, let’s pray.” The pastor tried to teach him to say other things but to no avail. He learned that one of his deacons had a parrot. His parrot would only say, “Let’s kiss. Let’s kiss.” …

Peter Marshall’s Prayer Before The U.S. Senate (illustration)

Peter Marshall, speaking before the U.S. Senate said it ever so well in a prayer many years ago. “Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to b …

A Little Boy Offered Up a Thanksgiving Prayer (illustration)

A little boy offered up a Thanksgiving Day prayer for the family and prayed: “Dear God, this is Jimmy. Thank you for Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of the holidays. Thank you for the turkey and dressing and Mom and Dad and even for my little sister, even though some time …

Prayer – Above and Beyond the Norm (illustration)

Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. - (Phillips Brooks). …

Prayer – The Fuel for a Powerful Pulpit (illustration)

Five young college students were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed C. H. Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, “Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant …

Havner - The Best Way to Remember Things (illustration)

Any housewife knows that the best way to remember the things she meant to do and forgot, is to start praying. They will come to her mind, to divert her from prayer. (Quote from Vance Havner). …

Prayer is Surrender to The Will of God (illustration)

Prayer is surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boat hook from a boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to th …

Grass Growing on The Prayer Path (illustration)

In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own p …

Bear Who Said, “Bless This Food I Am About to Eat (illustration)

An atheist was walking through the woods looking at the beautiful trees and flower that had just bloomed ...

Children’s Prayers: Dear God.... (illustration)

Children’s Prayers:Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The one you sent last week cries too much. Deb, Age 7. Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. Jimmy, Age 6.Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even foo …

Hudson Taylor - His Mother’s Prayer (illustration)

Eighteen-year-old Hudson Taylor wandered into his father’s library and read a gospel tract. He couldn’t shake off its message. Finally, falling to his knees, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Later, his mother, who had been away, returned home. When Hudson told her the good news, …

Praying for the downfall of Christians (illustration)

A Christian leader, we’ll call him Ralph, was traveling recently by plane. He noticed that the man sitting two seats over was thumbing through some little cards and moving his lips. Guessing the man was a fellow-believer, Ralph leaned over to engage him in conversation. “ …

Rich Man Gives Son an Allowance (illustration)

Once there was a rich man who had a son to whom he promised an annual allowance. Every year on the same day, he would give his son the entire amount. After a while, it happened that the only time the father saw his son was on the day of allowance. So the father changed his pl …

God’s Answering Machine (illustration)

What if God had an answering machine? Imagine praying and hearing this: “Thank you for calling My Father’s House. Please select one of the following four options: Press 1 for requests.Press 2 for thanksgiving.Press 3 for complaints.For all other inquiries, press 4.& …

Chafer - On the Subject of Prayer (illustration)

Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer told a story on the subject of prayer. It seems that a certain minister was in the habit of giving profound prayers, oftentimes resorting to words beyond the comprehension of his simple flock. This went on week after week, to the dismay and frustration of …

Prayer - “I wasn’t addressing you, Mr. President.” (illustration)

The story goes that one time when Bill Moyers was a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, he was asked to say grace before a meal in the family quarters of the White House. As Moyers began praying softly, the President interrupted him with “Speak up, Bill! Sp …

Prayer was a Part of Hudson Taylor’s Life (illustration)

Prayer is a time of refreshment. Howard Taylor says of his father, Hudson Taylor, “For forty years the sun never rose on China a single day that God didn’t find him on his knees.” (Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission). …

Martin Luther - Praying According to God’s Will (illustration)

Here’s a good example of learning to pray according to God’s will: “Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation, had a good friend and assistant by the name of Friedrich Myconius. In 1540, Myconius became sick and was expected to die. On his deathbed he wro …

I Wasn’t Praying to You, Mr President (illustration)

The story goes that one time when Bill Moyers was a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, he was asked to say grace before a meal in the family quarters of the White House. As Moyers began praying softly, the President interrupted him with “Speak up, Bill! …

God Helped Me Find My Check Book (illustration)

One day my family was traveling down the interstate in Indiana pulling a travel trailer. I heard a strange sound so stopped and went to the back of the car and found a loose chain. I hooked it up and got back in the car and traveled to our home in Ohio. The next day I neede …

A Morning Prayer For Help (illustration)

“A Morning Prayer for Help” - note that I said “morning"! “Dear God, so far today I’ve done alright, I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, been nasty, selfish or overindulgent. But in a few minutes God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on …

Young School Boy Prayed - Make Boulder The Capitol (illustration)

A young school boy was saying his nightly prayers. Please make Boulder the capitol of Colorado. His mother asked, why did you ask that? The boy replied, because that’s what I put down on my test today. (Source Unknown). …

The Lord Owns The Cattle on a Thousand Hills (illustration)

In its early days, Dallas Theological Seminary was in critical need of $10,000 to keep the work going. During a prayer meeting, renowned Bible teacher Harry Ironside, a lecturer at the school, prayed, “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of t …

A Young Boy Praying in Silent Prayer (illustration)

A friend of mine took his small son with him to town one day to run some errands. When lunchtime arrived, the two of them went to a familiar diner for a sandwich. The father sat down on one of the stools at the counter and lifted the boy up to the seat beside him. They ordered lu …

Prayer (illustration)

A mother was walking by her daughter’s bedroom door when she heard her daughter reciting the alphabet in a very reverent tone. “What are you doing” asks mum. “I’m praying” comes the reply, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying al …

Young Daughter Trying to Find The Right Words to Pray (illustration)

A mother was walking by her daughter’s bedroom door when she heard her daughter reciting the alphabet in a very reverent tone. “What are you doing” asks mum. “I’m praying” comes the reply, ...

A Heart Broken Little Girl (illustration)

A heart-broken little girl began to kneel and pour out her heart to God in the altar at her local church. She did not know what to say. As she wept speechless, she began to remember what her Father had told her, “God knows your needs even before you pray, and he can answer w …

Prayer (illustration)

im Cymballa, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, told his small congregation that “if they called upon the Lord, He had promised in His word to answer, to bring the unsaved to Himself, and to pour out His Spirit among them. If they did not call upon the Lord, He had promised the …

Prayer (illustration)

A heart-broken little girl began to kneel and pour out her heart to God in the altar at her local church. She did not know what to say. As she wept speechless, she began to remember what her Father had told her, “God knows your needs even before you pray, and he can answer w …

Time For Prayer is Needed (illustration)

Without time for prayer, nothing can be accomplished. - Scroggie He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. - John Bunyan. When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Mueller’s reply was, “Hours every day. But I …

Hop In And Pray (illustration)

Robert LeRoe tells this story: When I was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, I often reported to V Corps Headquarters, which was located in the historic Abrams Bldg. To get upstairs there were ...

The Devil Trembles When we Pray (illustration)

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” (Samuel Chadwick) …

How Can we Have Revival (illustration)

Once a man asked an evangelist “how can we have revival?” The evangelist answered by asking “Do you have a place where you can pray?” Yes the man replied. Tell you what to do, go to that place and take a piece of chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the …

William Booth’s Remedy for a troubled heart (illustration)

Work as if everything depends on us and pray as if everything ...