A Devotion from Charles Spurgeon

“Continue in prayer.” —Colossians 4:2

It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of

prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We

scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;”

and just as we are about to close the volume, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our

ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob—there a Daniel who prayed three

times a day—and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see

Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of

promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may

be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous

in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it.

So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou

want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God?

Then, may the Lord’s mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer

is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying

saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the

honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy

Father’s love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer

communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou

mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of

thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”