"As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

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Intercessory Prayer Directory

Sample Answers to Prayer     Bible Promises    How To Pray and Secret Prayer  

Holy Spirit and Prayer   Kinds of Prevailing Prayers    The Prayer of Faith  

Prayer Meeting    Promises about Prayer Requests   

Certainty of Prayer Requests Answered  Motives in Prayer   Faith and Prayer

Conditions for Prevailing Prayers    

Unanswered Prayer   Prayers and Cherished Sin   Prayers and Bad Relationships    

Obedience and Intercessory Prayer    Overcoming Satan and Deliverance Ministries  

Prevailing Intercessory Prayers    Prevailing Healing Prayers  

Fasting    Revival Prayers   

Perseverance & Praise   Prayer Groups    Dan's Sermons & Seminars 

Books and Sermons on Prayer   Links on Prayer   Finney Prevailing Prayers

 

Prevailing Prayers: The GREAT aim of praying people

Ever since Jacob struggled and overcame the power of the enemy through prevailing prayer, God's children have been earnestly seeking His help; through their insistent prayers! By way of introduction, here are some quotations on prevailing prayer.

E. M Bounds:
“Jacob is an illustration for all time of the commanding and conquering forces of prayer. God came to him as an antagonist. He grappled Jacob, and shook him as if he were in the embrace of a deadly foe. Jacob, the deceitful supplanter, the wily, unscrupulous trader, had no eyes to see God. His perverted  principles, and his deliberate overreaching and wrong-doing had blinded his vision.      To reach God, to know God, and to conquer God, that was the demand of this critical hour. Jacob was alone, and all night witnessed to the intensity of the struggle, its changing issues, and its veering  fortunes, as well as the receding and advancing lines in the conflict. Here was the strength of weakness, the power of self-despair, the energy of perseverance, the elevation of humility, and the victory of surrender. Jacob's salvation issued from the forces which he massed in that all-night conflict. He prayed and wept and importuned until the fiery hate of Esau's heart died and it was softened into love. A greater miracle was wrought on Jacob than on Esau. His name, his character and his destiny were all changed by that all-night praying. Here is the record of the results of that night's praying  struggle: "As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." "By his strength he had power with God, yea, he had power over the angel and prevailed."

John Bunyan:
“Prayer is a command of God, and is to be practiced both in public and in private; yes, such a command brings those that have the spirit of prayer, into great intimacy with God; and the prevailing prayer, will receive great things from God, both for the person that prayed, and for those that are prayed for. Prayer opens the heart of God, and is a means by which the empty soul is filled. By prayer the Christian can open his heart to God, as to a friend, and obtain fresh testimony of God's friendship to him. My purpose today will be to show you the very heart of prayer, without which, all your lifting up, of hands, eyes, and voices, will be to no avail.”

Charles Finney:
“Benevolent desires are doubtless pleasing to God. Such desires pervade heaven and are found in all holy beings. But they are not prayer. Men may have these desires as the angels and glorified spirits have them. But this is not the effectual, prevailing prayer spoken of in the text. Prevailing prayer is something more than this. Prevailing, or effectual prayer, is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectually moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it effects its object.... When the fallow ground is thoroughly broken up in the hearts of Christians, when they have confessed and made restitution—if the work be thorough and honest—they will naturally and inevitably fulfill the conditions, and will prevail in prayer. But it cannot be too distinctly understood that none others will. What we commonly hear in prayer and conference meetings is not prevailing prayer. It is often astonishing and lamentable to witness the delusions that prevail upon the subject. Who that has witnessed real revivals of religion has not been struck with the change that comes over the whole spirit and manner of the prayers of really revived Christians? I do not think I ever could have been converted if I had not discovered the solution of the question: “Why is it that so much that is called prayer is not answered?”

S D Gordon:
“If there be any regrets in heaven — heaven is not supposed to have any regrets, we think of heaven as having all the regrets turned out and kept out, — and yet, if there could creep in regrets, I think there would be at least two, as we look back to the earth-life from the hills of God. One regret would be this: that we did not do more quiet praying, more claiming. I do not mean more simple repetition of religious language on our knees, but more insistent claiming, that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ shall apply here, and there, over the earth. That will be one regret, if there be regrets: that we did not ask enough, and did not ask big enough. We will say to ourselves, "What beggarly askers we were down on the earth!" The second regret, I think, if there be regrets, will be this: that we did not trust enough, that we did not trust God enough. We did not step out, when we could not see where to put the foot down, when He said, "Step out." And if we might rule our lives here by what we shall think of them when we get yonder, then, I believe, we shall surely wear down the doorsills into our prayer-rooms.”

F B Meyer:
"We must believe that God is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The Father is the object of our prayer, through the mediation of our Lord Jesus and by the aid of the Holy Spirit; but however we conceive of it-whether the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit is the prominent object before our thought-we must believe that there is an eye that witnesses our poor endeavors, an ear that listens, a mind that can be impressed and affected by our requests. But further, we need a living faith which reckons on the faithfulness of God and believes that it has already received its petitions, when they are founded on speciï¬ï¿½c promises and evidently prompted by the Holy Spirit. When we pray, it is not enough merely to speak a long list of requests into the ear of God; it becomes us to wait after each one and to receive by an appropriating act of the soul. It is as though we saw God take from the shelves of His storehouse the boon on which we had set our heart, label it with our name, and put it aside until the precise moment arrived in which He could bestow it on us without hurt."

George Muller:
“There is not a more blessed and powerful weapon for the children of God, than that they should give themselves to prayer. For thus they can have the power of God on their side—the almighty power of God. And by making use of this power, through the instruments of prayer in all things we need, we can have the infinite wisdom of God brought to work for us, and have God Himself at our side, as children of God. Therefore we should seek to make a far better use than ever we have clone of prayer. And you, my beloved Christian friends, who are in the habit of meeting often at the noonday prayer meeting, expect great things at the hands of God; look out for wondrous blessings, and you will find how ready He is to give those things which we ask for.” From Counsels to Christians

Andrew Murray:
“We wanted to have the comfort and the joy and the strength first, that we might do the work easily and without any feeling of difficulty or self-sacrifice.  And He wanted us in faith, without asking whether we felt weak or strong, whether the work was hard or easy, in the obedience of faith to do what He said:  the path of fruit-bearing would have led us to the place and the power of prevailing prayer.  Obedience is the only path that leads to the glory of God.  Not obedience instead of faith, nor obedience to supply the shortcomings of faith; no, but faith’s obedience gives access to all the blessings our God has for us.  The baptism of the Spirit (xiv. 16), the manifestation of the Son (xiv. 21), the indwelling of the Father (xiv. 23), the abiding in Christ’s love (xv. 10), the privilege of His holy friendship (xv. 14), and the power of all-prevailing prayer (xv. 16),--all wait for the obedient. Let us take home the lessons.  Now we know the great reason why we have not had power in faith to pray prevailingly.  Our life was not as it should have been:  simple downright obedience, abiding fruitfulness, was not its chief mark.  And with our whole heart we approve of the Divine appointment:  men to whom God is to give such influence in the rule of the world, as at their request to do what otherwise would not have taken place, men whose will is to guide the path in which God’s will is to work, must be men who have themselves learned obedience, whose loyalty and submission to authority must be above all suspicion.  Our whole soul approves the law:  obedience and fruit-bearing, the path to prevailing prayer.   And with shame we acknowledge how little our lives have yet borne this stamp.”

Thomas Payne:
“NEARLY the whole of Church history furnishes us with some remarkable examples of the power of prevailing prayer - examples which should encourage us to lay hold of God's strength in the exercise of this important duty. Moreover, the Bible teems with promises which are backed up with testimonies of God's faithfulness in answer to the earnest pleadings of His people. Therefore it is possible, by these, and by the help we may derive from the following examples, to prove the omnipotence of prayer in a manner we have never yet dreamed, and should cause us thereby to let go all our doubts with regard to its reality and power. “

Samuel Rutherford:
“I had never more cause to fear than I have now, when my Lord has restored me to my second created heaven on earth, and has turned my apprehended fears into joys, and great deliverance to His church, whereof I have my share and part. Alas! that weeping prayers, answered and sent back from heaven with joy, should not have laughing praises! Oh that this land would repent, and lay burdens of praises upon the top of the fair Mount Zion! Madam, except this land be humbled, a Reformation is rather my wonder than belief, at this time. But surely it must be a wonder, and what is done already is a wonder.”

J. C. Ryle:
“But this I do say, that not praying is a clear proof that a man is not yet a true Christian. He cannot really feel his sins. He cannot love God. He cannot feel himself a debtor to Christ. He cannot long after holiness. He cannot desire heaven. He has yet to be born again. He has yet to be made a new creature. He may boast confidently of election, grace, faith, hope, and knowledge, and deceive ignorant people. But you may rest assured it is all vain talk if he does not pray…. And I say, furthermore, that of all the evidences of the real work of the Spirit, a habit of hearty private prayer is one of the most satisfactory that can be named. A man may preach from false motives. A man may write books and make fine speeches and seem diligent in good works, and yet be a Judas Iscariot. But a man seldom goes into his closet, and pours out his soul before God in secret, unless he is in earnest. The Lord himself has set his stamp on prayer as the best proof of a true conversion. When he sent Ananias to Saul in Damascus, he gave him no other evidence of his change of heart than this, "Behold, he prayeth" (Acts 9: 11).”

A. B. Simpson:
“There is a knocking prayer, to which the promise is given, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." This is more than seeking. This is the prayer that surmounts the great obstacles of life, the closed doors of circumstances, the brazen gates and adamantine mountains of hindrance and opposition, and which, in the name of our ascended Lord and in the fellowship of His mediatorial rights and powers, presses through every obstacle and treads down every adversary. It is not so much the prayer that knocks at the gates of heaven and extorts an answer from an unwilling God, as the prayer which, having received the answer and promise, carries it forth against the gates of the enemy and beats them down, as the walls of Jericho fell before the tramp and shout of Israel's believing hosts. It is the prayer which takes its place at the side of our ascended Lord and claims what He has promised to give, and even commands, in His mighty name, that which He has already commanded through His royal Priesthood and all-prevailing intercession. It is faith putting its hand on the omnipotence of God and using it in fellowship with our Omnipotent Head until it sees His name prevail against all that opposes His will, the crooked thing s made straight, the gates of brass opened, and the fetters of iron broken asunder.”

Charles Spurgeon:
“Oh! that you studied your Bibles more! Oh! that we all did! How we could plead the promises! How we could plead the promises! How often we should prevail with God when we could hold him to his word, and say, “Fulfill this word unto thy servant, whereon thou hast caused me to hope.” Oh! it is grand praying when our mouth is full of God’s word, for there is no word that can prevail with him like his own. You tell a man, when you ask him for such and such a thing, “You yourself said you would do so and so.” You have him then. And so when you can lay hold on the covenant angel with this consecrated grip, “Thou hast said! thou hast said!” then have you every opportunity of prevailing with him.”

Hudson Taylor:
“Should we not do well to suspend our present operations and give ourselves to humiliation and prayer for nothing less than to be filled with the Spirit, and made channels through which He shall work with resistless power? Souls are perishing now for lack of this power. . . . God is blessing now some who are seeking this blessing from Him in faith. All things are ready if we are ready."

Unknown Christian:
“We may smile at this peculiar way of testing the acceptability of a prayer. But is it not a  fact that the majority of Christian men and women who pray to a Living God know very little about real prevailing prayer? Yet prayer is the key which unlocks the door of God’s treasure-house.   It is not too much to say that all real growth in the spiritual life-all victory over temptation, all confidence and peace in the presence of difficulties and dangers, all repose  of spirit in times of great disappointment or loss, all habitual communion with God-depend upon the practice of secret prayer…. Oh, how great must be God’s wonder today! For how few there are among us who know what prevailing prayer really is! Every one of us would confess that we believe in prayer, yet how many of us truly believe in the power of, prayer? Now, before we go a step  farther, may the writer most earnestly implore you not to read hurriedly what is contained in these chapters. Much — very much — depends upon the way in which every reader receives what is here recorded. For everything depends upon prayer…. Men of power are without exception men of prayer. God bestows His Holy Spirit in His fullness only on men of prayer. And it is through the operation of the Spirit that answers to prayer come. Every believer has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him. For “if any have  not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” But a man of prevailing prayer must be filled with the Spirit of God.”

Ellen White:
“There is necessity of diligence in prayer; let nothing hinder you. You will obtain the blessing you desire if you faint not. Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden him; you cannot weary him. He who numbers the hairs of your head, who notices the fall of a sparrow, is not indifferent to the wants of his people. "The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." He is affected by our sorrows, and even by our utterance of them. Take everything to him that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for him to bear; for he holds up worlds; he rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing is too small for him to notice that in any way disturbs our peace. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for him to read; there is no perplexity too sore for him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of his people, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere, contrite prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which he takes no immediate interest. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

 

Samuel Clarke's Precious Bible Promises of God  (longs lists of promises)

Clarke's Precious Promises of God was published in 1705 and was a much read listing of promises on a wide range of subjects. I have split them out to add additional verses and quotations. You will find rich reading at this link!

J. C. Ryle: Claiming Bible Promises

J. C. Ryle wrote wonderfully encouraging words on believing and claiming God's promises. Consider his thoughts and then pray with greater confidence! 

A Testimony: Promises Bring Deliverance

Read a testimony of how claiming promises brought deliverance.

In presenting seminars I am often questioned about the many kinds of prayers being sent up. People seem to be concerned that in learning about prevailing prayer, we are reducing prayer to some kind of formula. We aren't! But we are learning the Bible's specifics regarding intercessory prayer, and how we can prevail in prayer on behalf of other people. Though we may concentrate on one kind of prayer, we mustn't forget that many kinds of prayers are going up all the time, and each kind has its purpose. The links provide further information on some of them.

Kinds of Prevailing and Intercessory Prayers

What motivates you to pray? Your personal needs? The honor of God? Fellowship with Him? This is an important question for right motives certainly play an impotant role in obtaining answers to our prayers!
 

John Wesley: Works of John Wesley

"From works of charity or mercy, our Lord proceeds to those which are termed woiks of piety." And when thou prayesi," saith he, "thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are  for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men."—"Thou shalt not be as the hypocriies are." Hypocrisy, then, or insincerity, is the first thing we are to guard against in prayer. Beware not to speak what thou dost not mean. Prayer is the lifting up of the heart to God: all words of prayer, without this, are mere hypocrisy. Whenever therefore thou attemptest to pray, see that it be thy one design to commune with God, to lift up thy heart to him, to pour out thy soul before him; not as the hypocrites, who love or are wont, "to pray standing in the synagogues," the exchange, or marke places, "and in the corners of the streets," wherever the most people are "that they may be seen of men;" this was the sole design, the motive and end, of the prayers which they there repeated. "Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."—They are to expect none from your Father which is in heaven."—John Wesley, Works of John Wesley
 

Daniel Whittle: The Wonders of Prayer "Discerning Prayer" (Motives in prayer)

"The highest use of prayer is to bring the soul nearer to God, and not the making of it a mere matter of convenience to escape physical ills or supply physical necessities. That which is born of the flesh is flesh” and continues flesh until the end. “Have no confidence in the flesh” is always a much needed exhortation. Now, unquestionably, the desires of the natural heart may and do deceive us, and often lead us to believe that our fervent earnest prayer for temporal blessing is led of the Spirit, when the mind of the Spirit is, that we will be made more humble, more Christ-like and more useful by being denied than by being granted. Again, we are in danger of disobeying the plain commands of God's word in allowing prayer ever to take the place of anything in our power to do, and that we are commanded to do as a means to secure needed good. He who has said “pray always,” has also said, “Be ambitious to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.” (Read the rest of Whittle's introductory)

 

Charles Finney: Lectures on Revival (Excerpt on Agreeing in Prayer)

"We see the hypocrisy of those who profess to be praying for a revival while they are doing nothing to promote it. There are many who appear to be very zealous in praying for a revival, while they are not doing any thing at all for one. What do they mean. Are they agreed as touching the things they ask for? Certainly not. They cannot be agreed in offering acceptable prayer for a revival until they are prepared TO DO what God requires them to do to promote it. What would you think of the farmer who should pray for a crop and not plough nor sow ? Would you think such prayers pious, or an insult to God?" (Read more from Charles Finney on motives in prayer)
 

George Muller: Narratives (on Motives in Prayer)

"This circumstance now led me to lie low before my God in prayer, and to examine my heart once more as to all the motives concerning it; and being able, as formerly, to say that his glory was my chief aim, i. e., that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing to trust in the living God, and still continuing in prayer. I was at last brought to this state, that I could say from my heart that I should rejoice in God being glorified in this matter, though it were by bringing the whole to nothing." (Read more from Muller on this subject)
 

Jeremy Taylor: Rules for Holy Living (on Motives in prayer)

Taylor's book greatly influenced John and Charles Wesley, as well as George Whitefield.

"There is no greater argument in the world of our spiritual danger and unwillingness to religion, than the backwardness which most men have always, and all men have sometimes, to say their prayers; so weary of their length, so glad when they are done, so witty to excuse and frustrate an opportunity; and yet all is nothing but a desiring of God to give us the greatest and the best things we can need, and which can make us happy; it is a work so easy, so honourable, and to so great purpose,-that in all the instances of the religion and providence, (except only the incarnation of his Son,) God hath not given us a greater argument of his willingness to have us saved, and of our unwillingness to accept it, his goodness and our gracelessness, his infinite condescension and our carelessness and folly, than by rewarding so easy a duty with so great blessings." (Read more of what Jeremy Taylor says on the right motives for praying)
 

Ellen White: Various Writings

"The relative estimate which the Pharisee and the publican place upon themselves is as false as that which others place upon them. Both resort to the temple at the hour of public prayer, professedly to worship God; but what a contrast there is in the motives that actuate them, and in their feelings, as expressed in their prayers! The Pharisee went, not because he felt his great need of God, but because he wanted to be thought a very pious and excellent man. He was perfectly self-satisfied, and thought that others looked upon him with the same complacency with which he regarded himself. He did not present the offering of a broken and contrite heart. He did not come with confession of sins, and with love flowing out in words of gratitude for the great mercy of a covenant-keeping God. He came not to present his needs. He made no supplication; he expressed no want. Standing in the temple of God, he dared to boast of his own goodness, and to measure himself with other men, and claim superiority." (Read more on the subject of motives in prayer)
 

 

Complying with the Bible Conditions: Testimonies of Great Christians

 

A. T. Pierson

Charles Finney

Charles Finney on the Bible's Conditions for Answered Prayer

George Müller

Andrew Murray

 

E. M. Bounds

William Patton (from his book Prayer and Its Remarkable Answers)

Patton: Conditions of Success in Prayer

"Thirteen conditions are necessary to prevail in prayer; but they are really so many specifications of the one condition of a right state of heart—a heart unselfish, in sympathy with God, jealous for his honor, and desirous of carrying out his will and promoting the good of all. There is no mysterious or inexplicable condition, and none beyond the reach of the humblest petitioner. Yet as these conditions do reasonably and necessarily exist, they must be regarded by those who wish to prevail in prayer." (Read of this helpful chapter)
 

Ellen White

 

Unanswered prayers often result from ignoring hindering factors. There are primarily two—cherished sin and unresolved differences—and these must not be minimized. Learn more about how these hindering factors keep us from prevailing in prayer, and what the Bible and other great Christians have said on the subject.

 

Introduction & Testimonies on Hindering Factors

Cherished Sin

Prayer Subjects Directory   Top

Bad Relationships With Others

In my own experience, bad relationships with others and lack of love played a greater role than I ever imagined. Please don't ignore this factor.

An excerpt: "She came again that night to the pastor and his wife for help. After she had been with them for some time she thought they were refusing to help so she bolted out the door and ran downtown. She saw a clock that said, "3 O'clock" and she realized that they had been working with her all night. She felt so bad that she had run from them that she wrapped her arms around a tree and cried out to God, "If there is a God in heaven and if He can help me, please do! ! !" She opened her eyes and looked up in the tree. She saw Jesus as if he were on the cross. He spoke one of His beautiful promises to her--I never did find out what that promise was. She did not see His face. She said there was a light around it that kept her from seeing what He really looks like. But she saw His nail-scarred hands." (Read the entire article)

Gerhard Tersteegen
 

Gerhard Tersteegen recorded the following on the subject:
"In his earlier years, he was frequently attacked by strange spirits, and supernatural influences, which he ascribed to his having associated with some, who had converse with them. At this period, when he left his work, for the purpose of private prayer, he was seized with such a shaking, that every limb trembled. Being conscious, however, from his knowledge of the Divine character, that this was contrary to it, he never gave way to this strange, disorderly, and terrifying influence, but returned to his work. After repeating this a few times, the trembling ceased, and the temptation was at an end."

And the following:
"A female in an ill state of health, imagined that she heard a supernatural voice calling upon her to arise and pray; but it being in the winter season, her weak frame could scarcely support the exertion; she therefore consulted our departed friend on the subject, who advised her not to rise in the cold, but when she thought herself again called, instead of getting up, to resume her devotions in bed: upon doing which, she heard the supernatural voice no more; and other singular things, which had previously occurred, also ceased. To these, the following relation may be added. A friend of his once visited him, who was very intimate with a person who possess d a great degree of filial devotedness to God, but who had seen many extraordinary visions, and to whom many strange things had occurred; she likewise said many edifying things, and foretold events, some of which were to take place after her decease. These, the friend above mentioned, communicated to Tersteegen, who gave him the following reply: “Pay no attention to all these extraordinary things, which are only dangerous, and tend to hinder a growth in grace. I cordially admire the substantial change which divine grace has wrought in her, but you and I will live long enough to see that nothing will follow of all these things, however desirable they may be.” The result confirmed this opinion. After her decease, the friend above alluded to, visited him again, and expressed his sorrow at not having paid more attention to his advice; on which he said, “This event will be useful, and serve as a preservative to you in future, to keep you from being carried away by such singular and extraordinary things, and to pass them by.” The good man, however, despised no extraordinary gifts, light, or visions; but his advice was, that they should be carefully and thoroughly examined; because, persons who gave themselves up to them, might be easily deceived by the influence of strange spirits."

 

Prayer Subjects Directory   Top


Prevailing Intercessory Prayers

 

s

Prayer Subjects Directory   Top

Prayer for healing is another significant reason that people pray. Some seem to prevail and obtain answers, others don't. Why? What should be expected when interceding for another person? How should the person prayed for respond? Should he or she leave the hospital and stop taking their medications? What about the use of natural remedies? You will find good answers here.

Jesus made it clear that some things are only overcome by prayer and fasting. In some parts of the world, prayer and fasting is still an important part of prevailing in prayer. I think it should be everywhere. Learn more about fasting below.

A Compelling Case for Fasting (John Wesley, a sermon)

"Of all the means of grace there is scarce any concerning which men have run into greater extremes, than that of which our Lord speaks in the above mentioned words, I mean religious fasting. How have some exalted this beyond all Scripture and reason;-and others utterly disregarded it; as it were, revenging themselves, by undervaluing, as much as the former had overvalued it! Those have spoken of it, as if it were all in all; if not the end itself, yet infallibly connected with it: these, as if it were just nothing, as if it were a fruitless labour, which had no relation at all thereto. Whereas it is certain the truth lies between them both. It is not all, nor yet is it nothing. It is not the end, but it is a precious means thereto; a means which God himself has ordained, and in which therefore, when it is duly used, he will surely give us his blessing."

Necessity of Fasting (Benjamin Davis)

"Fasting, then, is natural to the grief-stricken Christian, and it is necessary to the Christian who cannot grieve. The earnest soul will fast for very earnestness, and the sluggish soul should fast that it may become earnest."

"Do you say that fasting belongs to the old dispensation, and is contrary to the spirit of the gospel? I answer, Surely the example of Christ and his apostles ought to be sufficient to satisfy us upon this point, and we cannot do wrong in following such an example. The disciples fasted not whilst Christ the heavenly Bridegroom was with them, but they often fasted when he was taken away from them. Matt. ix. 15. Acts xiii. 2, 3; xiv. 23. 2 Cor. vi. 5; Xl 27."

Fasting & Prayer

Shares a variety of quotations on the subject.
 

Journal Entries on Fasting (Andrew Bonar)
 

"Saturday, 25th.—The work at Hillhead still goes on; many more have been awakened. I have sought the Lord today, by fasting and prayer, that the blessing may come to my people in town also. How great the Lord's goodness seems to me at times in looking back all my life. Shall I ever have a hard thought of such a Lord as mine? His afflictions are sent in deep love, and then followed up by new mercies, as if He were hastening to soften the stroke. Today my little Janie sat in the study playing with some little books, and, as if sent by the Lord, went on repeating Psalm ciii and then the paraphrase, 'Take comfort, Christians, when your friends in Jesus fall asleep.' Was she God's messenger to me, lisping the message for my sake though she knew it not?"

Journal Entries on Fasting (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)
 

"His morning hours were set apart for the nourishment of his own soul; not, however, with the view of laying up a stock of grace for the rest of the day, —for manna will corrupt if laid by, — but rather with the view of “giving the eye the habit of looking upward all the day, and drawing down gleams from the reconciled countenance." He was sparing in the hours devoted to sleep, and resolutely secured time for devotion before breakfast, although often wearied and exhausted when he laid himself to rest. “A soldier of the cross," was his remark, “must endure hardness." Often he sang a psalm of praise, as soon as he arose, to stir up his soul. Three chapters of the word was his usual morning portion. This he thought little enough, for he delighted exceedingly in the Scriptures; thcy were better to him than thousands of gold or silver."
 

Duty and Use of Fasting (Joseph Milner)

This sermon greatly encourage Henry Martyn who was among the first missionaries to China.

Journal Entries on Fasting (Henry Martyn)

"September 22, 1805. Had some thoughts of devoting this day to prayer and fasting, but was undecided as to the latter, whether it would be right in the present weak state of my body, to omit the meal of dinner. Read in the morning a good deal of David Brainerd; his dying testimony in favour of such occasional abstinence is very weighty. I began to pray, first in reference to my own soul, that it might be made truly penitent."
 

Journal Entries on Fasting (David Brainerd)

 

“In the time while I remained in this state my notions respecting my duties, were quite different from what I had entertained in times past. Now I saw there was no necessary connection between my prayers and the Divine mercy; that they laid not the least obligation upon God to bestow his grace upon me; and that there was no more goodness in them than there would be in my paddling in the water (which was the comparison I had then in my mind) and this because they were not performed from any love to God. I saw that I had heaped up my devotions before God, fasting, praying, &c. really thinking I was aiming at the glory of God; where as I never once truly intended it."
 

Dying Wishes (David Brainerd)

"But the way to enjoy the divine presence, and to be fitted for distinguishing service for God, is to live a life of great devotion and constant self-dedication to him; observing the motions and dispositions of our own hearts, whence we may learn the corruptions that lodge there, and our constant need of help from God for the performance of the least duty. And O, dear sir, let me beseech you frequently to attend to the great and precious duties of secret fasting and prayer."

His Experience with Prayer and Fasting (Charles Finney)

"Sometimes I would pursue a wrong course in fasting, and attempt to examine myself according to the ideas of self-examination then entertained by my minister and the church. I would try to look into my own heart, in the sense of examining my feelings; and would turn my attention particularly to my motives, and the state of my mind. When I pursued this course I found invariably that the day would close without any perceptible advance being made."

Fasting Brings Flood-tides of Blessing (Reginald Radcliffe)

"The more I dwell upon the subject the more I consider God's normal plan of acting, so to speak, in heathen lands would be by "floods," and not merely by units—moving by the outpoured Spirit, neighbourhoods, towns, and even provinces and nations; and converting out of them, not by units, but by flocks and multitudes, if only we would not stay His hand by our hindering unbelief. Then I think (and I am sure I am with you in this) the individual Christian worker must in solitude stir up himself to take hold upon God, or, rather, open his mouth wide to receive of God. He must make time to be alone with God. Furthermore, while Protestants have hated improper fasting—merit-making fasting—they have too generally forgotten Christ's words: "Then shall they fast;" "When ye fast." Again, have we not all been in error in not sufficiently looking and praying for the young converts to be immediately endued with power at once to witness for Christ? But this last, although so important, and an agency which, I believe, was so generally and so vastly used in New Testament times, is not the main subject on which I wish to lay stress."

True Fasting (E. White)

 

"The lesson given to the Pharisees and the disciples of John is for us. There is a work to do in seeking to bring sinners to repentance. The time spent in needless mourning and bodily humiliation might far better be devoted to merciful acts for suffering humanity. So long as souls are under the dominion of Satan, there must be no saving of self. There is stern, practical work to be done. The works of righteousness revealed in showing kindness to the needy, clothing the naked, relieving the oppressed, give evidence that the Spirit of God is operating on the heart. In the place of advancing and enriching ourselves, oppressing others, and neglecting the simple duties of life; in the place of putting on an appearance of great devotion and afflicting our bodies, we should humble our hearts before God. “Go ye,” says Christ, “and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

True Fasting (Chysostom)

Speaks of "bare fasting."

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