The Power of Prayer

by Clarice Bowman and George Harper

Introduction to The Power of Prayer

No power is greater than that which comes through prayer.

 

Prayer gives the power that can

control the men

who control the machines.

 

Prayer gives the power that can

rule the men

who rule the world.

 

Prayer can

set men free.

give them guidance.

save their souls.

save their world.

 

Whether or not it will

Is up to us.

 

Our decisions must be made

Quickly. Time is running out.

--  Clarice Bowman and George Harper

This book is written with that sense of urgency. Some youth and youth leaders may hear the challenge and take heed. That is the prayer out of which this writing is born.

"I believe that we shall soon witness a new religious movement, which will sweep over our sad and disillusioned world as the early Christian movement swept over that ancient Greco-Roman world, bringing spiritual insight, moral vigor, and therefore a revival of courage, hope and happiness...

"The new religious movement will start with a comparatively few individuals mostly of humble birth and station who will somehow recover that vision of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which in centuries past has once and again brought courage and hope to ... the world...

"Naturally they will not be content with things as they are.

* * * * *

"It is likely, therefore, that many of them will be called upon to endure persecution. All manner of evil will be spoken against them falsely for Christ's sake... I anticipate that in not a few bitter and terrible ways history will repeat itself. But this also I firmly believe: As a result of this new religious movement, there will presently appear in the lives of increasing numbers of people a new courage, a new hope and a new happiness. Believing that the glory of God has shone in the face of Jesus Christ, that what dwells eternally at the heart of things is not brute force, but love, men will become courageous. They will also become hopeful. And then, as they devote all that they have and are to a cause which they consider greater than self and dearer than life, they will develop a kind and degree of happiness comparable to that which in those early Christians led Tertullian to say, `The Church is the one thing in the world that always rejoices.'" Tittle, 1933

How to Use this Book .....

We didn't have to write this book. That is, in one way we didn't. Nobody told us to. But our hearts made us want to share something of what prayer means to us, before it is too late.

You don't have to read this book. Why did you pick it up? What do you hope to receive from it?

This writing is addressed to anyone who feels the need of prayer in his life. It is not for church crowds alone, but for anybody, especially for beginners in prayer life.

This book will not argue with you. For its purpose is not so much to inform or convince, as to set your feet on an upward trail that you will never want to leave. What you find here is but a beginning. Let the great saints and leaders of the Christian faith take you by the hand and lead you farther.

That this Writing may Serve You -

1.  First, have a talk with yourself. Ask yourself, "What are my ideas about prayer at present?" "In what kind of God do I believe?" "What have been my three most meaningful prayer experiences that I can remember?" "What made them meaningful?" "What causes me to want to pray?" "When have my prayers seemed to fail?" "Why?" "Exactly what are my prayer needs?"

Wait a minute! What about our purposes, even in reading a book on power through prayer. Is it the power you crave? A more magnetic personality? Adequacy for the demands you face? Then stop right here and pray that God may cleanse your heart of all self-seeking. Wherever people try to use prayer for their own selfish ends, they block the way for God's power to come in and transform their lives. Seek ye first, God ... and all these things will be added unto you.

2. Hold conversation in your mind with the authors. They may be mistaken. Think through. Decide. Make ideas your own. Relate them to similar experiences in your life. No one can tell another all. Don't let anything here set a pattern that will stunt your growth. You and your God must find your own pathways together.

3. Use other resources, especially the Bible. Choose some saint or leader; feel fellowship with him; write down some of his secrets of prayer. Expose your mind to ever larger thoughts.

4. Keep a spiritual diary. At times, write your prayer thoughts, or describe your experiences, or note down impulses that come to you for service action. But avoid the habit of looking inward, or of taking your spiritual pulse. Record as you go, but keep going forward. Look always to God, the Author and Finisher.

5. Discuss with friends. Find older friends in whom you have confidence. Share with friends your own age. But don't expect them to make your quest for you. Don't lean too much. Each has his own quest to make.

6. Pray. The only way to learn to pray is to pray - and the only way to learn to pray well is to pray much. Don't let reading about prayer (even reading this book) become an escape from real prayer. Reach forth spiritually. Jesus the Christ beckons yonder, "Come up higher." (Luke 14:10)

7. Relate your prayer always to your living. Real prayer involves the person-as-a-whole: your attitudes; your use of time; what you do with your money; how you treat your family and friends; the stand you are willing to take on issues such as race relations, economics, liquor traffic, nationalism; what you are willing to do and give for God.

8. Prepare to wrestle. Prayer involves more than passively enjoying God. Sometimes it tests, stings awake, sends out to hard tasks. Growth in prayer costs. "Whoever would come after me, let him take up his cross and follow." (Mark 8:34)

9. Learn directly from God. Beyond all human helps, both personal or written, He has something to teach you.

10. Make it lifelong. Spiritual heights are attained, not by sudden spurts now and then, but by steady continuous climbing.

References:

• Bremer, Harold. Message to the National Conference of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
• Dr. Allen Knight Chalmers, The Commonplace Prodigal. New York. Henry, Holt and Company. 1934. pp.24-41.
• Chalmers, A. K. Adventuring in Prayer. Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1942, p. 15.
• Day, A. E. Discipline and Discovery. The Upper Room, Nashville, Tenn. 1947. p. 24.
• D. J. Fleming, The World At One In Prayer.
• Geer, Owen. Christ's Pathway to Power. Methodist Publishing House.
• Dorothy Harper. POWER. National Conference of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, Nashville, Tennessee.
• Axling, William. Kagawa. Harper and Brothers, New York, N. Y. 1932.
• Thomas Kelly. Testament of Devotion. Harper and Brothers, New York, 1941. Used by permission.
• Kirkland, Winifred. Let Us Pray. Harper and Brothers. 1938. p. 19.
• Frank C. Laubach Prayer, the Mightiest Force in the World.Fleming H. Revell Company. New York. 1946.
• Frank Laubach. The Game of Minutes. Student Volunteer Movement. (Pamphlet)
• Muriel Lester, A Way of Life (pamphlet). Voorhis School Craft shops, San Dimas, California. p. 4.
• POWER. National Conference of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, Nashville, Tennessee.
• Radcliffe, L. J. Article, "Six Marks of Mature Prayer," motive, April, 1946.
• Ronald Sinclair. When We Pray. London: A. R. Mowbray. 1932.
• Tittle, E.F. A World that Cannot Be Shaken. Harper and Brothers. New York. 1933.
• Tittle, E.F. The Lord's Prayer. Abingdon-Cokesbury. Nashville. 1942.

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Matthew 6:9-15  "Pray,  then, in this way: `Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. `Your  kingdom come. Your  will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. `Give  us this day our  daily bread. `And forgive  us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. `And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver  us from evil.   For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.  "For  if you forgive others  for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  "But if  you do not forgive others,  then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.   (New American Standard)

Matthew 6: 9-15 With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best - as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.  (The Message)

Matthew 6: 9-15- "And then, when you pray, don't be like the play-actors. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at street-corners so that people may see them at it. Believe me, they have had all the reward they are going to get. But when you pray, go into your own room, shut your door and pray to your Father privately. Your Father who sees all private things will reward you. And when you pray don't rattle off long prayers like the pagans who think they will be heard because they use so many words. Don't be like them. After all, God, who is your Father, knows your needs before you ask him. Pray then like this - 'Our Heavenly Father, may your name be honored; May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day the bread we need, Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have also forgiven those who owe anything to us. Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil'.  For if you forgive other people their failures, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you will not forgive other people, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you your failures."   (J. B. Phillips)

Matthew 6:9-15 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  (King James)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.    Jude 1:24-25

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