The Fifteenth of January

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING --- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Pray without ceasing." --- 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

If we have not grace enough, it is because we do not pray enough; for most true it is, we need not strive to move God to compassion, and extort, as it were, the blessings from him by our prayers, which he has promised; very far from it.

He is every minute communicating himself to us; in every word he holds forth Christ and every good thing to us; but we must always have a soul hungering after Christ, and by incessant prayer stretch out the hand of faith to receive him.

This is chiefly to be understood of the inward desires and groanings of our spirit; but we must not omit to pour out our supplications daily, as oft as we can, by words; else our secret mental prayers at last may become so secret as to cease perhaps entirely.

Holy Father, lend an ear,
Whilst I sue in Jesus' name;
Surely thou wilt kindly hear,
Since I bring no human claim;
Let me for adoption stay,
Only give me power to pray.

Grant me comfort, or deny;
Visit, or from me depart;
Only let thy Spirit cry
Abba, Father, in my heart!
Abba, Father, would I say,
Only give me power to pray.