For a condensed version of Jonathan Edwards’ call to prayer see http://www.sbaoc.org/blog/?page_id=762 or go to www.sbaoc.org and go to “BLOG” and then “a call to prayer.”
James 5:16- “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.”
“We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or to sink the man in the plan or organization… What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use-men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men-men of prayer.” (The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, p. 447)
We say we believe in the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. Yet when it comes to action it appears that we believe in the inerrancy and authority of our own plans. Many claim to believe in the sovereignty of God, but by their actions it appears that they believe that God’s sovereignty is useful to carry out their own plans. As E.M. Bounds points out, however, God uses men of prayer. It is not that God uses men of prayer because they ask God to do more things and He is just setting around waiting until someone will start asking Him to do things He wants to do anyway. But God uses men of prayer because in true prayer men are seeking the Lord to change their hearts to be like Him and are seeking for the things He moves them to pray. Our prayers do not earn any merit or favor before God simply because we use His name and utter sounds into the air. But when our hearts are transformed to be like Christ in their desires and loves so that our prayers become expressions of the loves and desires of Christ, God sees His own desires and loves being expressed through us. When that happens, we are changed and become channels of His glory and He has now made us instruments of His glory in the world. When that happens, we pray for the things on His heart and are willing to suffer in order for them to happen. When His desires become our desires and when His loves become our loves, only then will we have prayed and will we truly pray.
Romans 8:26 – “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”
Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;”
“It should be pointed out that there is still another aspect that ought to take precedence over thanksgiving and petition, namely self-abhorrence and confession of our own unworthiness and sinfulness. The soul must solemnly remind itself of Who it is that is to be approached, even the Most High, before whom the very seraphim veil their faces (Isa 6:2). Though Divine grace has made the Christian a son, nevertheless he is still a creature, and as such at an infinite and inconceivable distance below the Creator. It is only fitting that he should deeply feel this distance between himself and his Creator and acknowledge it by taking his place in the dust before God” (A. W. Pink).
We often just think we are doing our duty by saying things in a religious way asking God to do things for ourselves. But when we are brought into prayer by grace, we are sharing in the very actions and life of the Trinity. The Spirit is teaching us how to pray by His work in us and also intercedes for us. The Son is at the right hand of God appearing for us and interceding for us. Our prayers need the help of the Spirit and the intercession of Christ. True prayer is a Divine activity in our souls and in heaven. Shall we seek to really pray or just utter words?
God Loves... Himself 
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