Never was prayer more necessary than in our day when Satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. What need there is, when the forces of darkness are so active, to cry to God that He would deliver us. His hand is not shortened, even in such a day as ours, that it cannot save, neither is His ear heavy that it cannot hear.
Though prayer was never more necessary yet, if we are to be honest, we must confess that it was never more restrained. Prayer, real prayer, fervent intercession at a Throne of grace is little practised in our day. The godly of a past generation excelled in this grace and sought the Lord’s blessing on themselves and on their children. Nor were they unmindful of the multitudes around them. We fear that this cannot be said of the generality of believers today. Few believers are earnestly and importunately beseeching the God of heaven that He would open the windows of heaven and pour down a blessing upon us.
Need we wonder then that the blessings of heaven are in large measure withheld. The former effusion of the Spirit so richly poured out upon the Church of God in days past is today withheld. Believers, themselves, have become dry and withered. So, too, as a consequence, we are witnessing rivers turned into a wilderness and watersprings into dry ground and a fruitful land turned into barrenness.
Is there not need at such a time as this to ask the Lord to give us a praying spirit? If this was granted, then coming before God at a Throne of grace would be a pleasant duty and privilege and an exercise in which we would have a holy delight. What need we have of the Spirit of grace and of supplications in order that we might call upon God in truth. Let us seek a praying spirit and deliverance from our own cold, prayerless frame that we may in a lively exercise and frame of heart call upon the Lord. How highly we ought to value a Throne of grace and the privilege of having access to God through Jesus Christ. May we not be guilty of neglecting that Throne through lack of a praying spirit. May we rather diligently frequent it, calling upon God humbly and earnestly, and saying with the Psalmist: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Ps. 141: 22.