Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. --James 4:8-10
Many years ago, J. Wilbur Chapman, an American evangelist and pastor, wrote the following about the impact of prayer in his life:
“At one of our missions in England the audience was exceedingly small, but I received a note saying that an American missionary was going to beseech the Lord on behalf of our work. The man was known as ‘Praying Hyde.’ Almost immediately the tide changed. Crowds began to pack the hall, and many accepted Christ as their Savior.
“Meeting Mr. Hyde later, I said, ‘Brother, I want you to pray for me personally.’ He came to my room, turned the key in the door, and dropped to his knees. He waited five minutes without a single syllable coming form his lips. I felt hot tears as they began running down my face. Although he had said nothing, I knew I was in the presence of God. Then with upturned face and with eyes streaming, he said, ‘O God!’ and was still again.
“When he seemed to sense that he was in full communion with the Lord, there came from the depths of his heart petitions such as I had never heard. I rose from my knees to know what real prayer was!”
Jesus warned us not to pray like hypocrites who “love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. …But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5-6).
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Today, go into a room by yourself and spend some time alone in the presence of the Lord in prayer without any distractions. Ask for His Holy Spirit to move, and then wait and listen for His still, small voice.
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