Brethren, in addition to having a rich devotional life, we need to live a life of prayer if we are to experience revival.
The keynote quote for revival says: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work” (E.G. White, Review and Herald, 3/22/1887).
Here is a previously unpublished quote that relates to it:
The life of prayer is the strength of true godliness.
— E.G. White, Letter 28, 1907
We should zealously seek after this experience with God, for this is the very strength of our first and greatest need, being true piety, or godliness. Outward reforms will not hold or even be desired unless we have a revival of our prayer life. Then shouldn’t we seek this first before anything else? Will you have a life of unbroken communion with God? Then start right now and keep pleading with God for it until it is habitual, for it is the life of your soul.
Breathing Unceasing Prayer
I’ve talked a lot about sacrificial love lately, as well as holiness, and the topic of prayer follows the same theme. This is the most important thing there is! And yet how much do we hear presentations on prayer, specifically the praying without ceasing experience? A revival of true godliness is our first and greatest need, and prayer is the strength of it, so should we not be striving for it and having this experience first before all else?
Prayer is not merely something you say to God and end with an ‘Amen’; prayer is a way of life. Sister White says to “let every breath be a prayer” (Ministry of Healing, p. 510). This obviously doesn’t mean saying something under every breath. Some of prayer is listening, as she says a couple paragraphs before that: “Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice.” Prayer also involves Christians to “set Christ always before them.”
This is to be our unceasing life experience, as it is written, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God. There is necessity for diligence in prayer; let nothing hinder you.
— Steps to Christ, p. 97
This explains how every breath is to be a prayer. Inhaling represents our receiving the messages and the eternal life therein that He sends to us, while exhaling represents our service we return to God for the graces we receive. Our service can be in the form of just a mental attitude while we are working that we are doing it unto the Lord. This we should have all the time. It can also be in words of prayer here and there throughout our work while we are listening, with the primary purpose of our petitions being towards the end of rendering better and more well-pleasing service to Him. The worship of praise and thanksgiving is also service to Him. So, we do not need to think of these things each time we inhale and exhale, though it will help us to think of it periodically; we only need to be praying in and praying out what each breath symbolizes in our prayer life. Breath represents our life, and this is to be our entire life; and the best part of all is that there is nothing more joyful!
We have read that the life of prayer is our strength, and yet it is also written, “The joy of Jehovah is your strength.” These statements are not contradictory; they both describe the one and the same experience. We can smile in every trial, and throughout our labors of toil, in the knowledge that we are doing well-pleasing service to Jehovah. “Serve Jehovah with gladness” (Ps. 100:2)! His service is a joy, because we love whom we serve and it has eternal benefits and results! Serving self is a continual burden, because of our high expectations that we can never fulfill; the wages are death. In the flesh, we always crave either what we cannot attain or what is forbidden. We expect nothing to go wrong and never be injured by mistreatment or mistakes. But we do not live in a utopia; we are in the school of the Messiah. We must learn to serve God in adversity as well as prosperity. Eternal life is a life of service. We grow into it now, so that it will be pure throughout eternity. In serving God, there is joy and satisfaction, because He has realistic expectations of us and gives us all that we need to fulfill them; also because how people treat us, our past failings, or misfortunes will matter little to us since all that really matters is why we live: to do well-pleasing service unto God.
How to Live the Life of Prayer
The recipe for praying without ceasing can be simmered down to this:
Joyfully serving Jehovah,
while looking and listening to Him,
sprinkled with praises, petitions, and thanksgivings.
What we need to realize is that in any given moment, we are either living in pride or in prayer. Each and every moment of our lives was purchased by the Son of God at the cross for His Spirit to live out His life of righteousness in us.
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own.
— 1 Corinthians 6:19
This is why prayer must be unceasing. By natural default, we are living in pride. Why is this? Because if we are not joyfully serving God, we are serving self, living to please self. Without praises to God for who He is, we praise ourselves. Without petitions to God, we are proudly depending on ourselves. And without thanksgivings, we will be proud of our accomplishments. And where there is pride, there will be impatience and other sins. But where there is prayer, there will only be cheerful obedience and thankfulness, with a complete absence of murmuring and complaining.
How are we when we are on the computer? Do we enter into an artificial world without God? Do we go to a new website without any thought of God? Do we run a Google search without inquiring first of God? This was my greatest barrier in my prayer life. Then I would get off the computer and still not be praying, because I had stopped for however long I was on the computer.
The artificial technology we have can be a great hindrance to knowing God, yet if we habitually come to keep Him before us in whatever we are looking at or doing on an electronic device and holding communion with the Lord Jehoshua in what we are interacting with before us—inquiring of Him, commenting to Him, petitioning Him—we will not lose our connection with God in technology but instead strengthen it. If we consistently pray or think of God when we go to any new website or any new interaction with someone, we will quickly develop habitual connection since website changes can be so frequent. It just means putting a lot of effort into it the first several days (if we spend a lot of time in technology) or weeks (if not). Habit is developed by simple repetition.
Below are some of the practical ways to live a life of prayer that I’ve gleaned and am developing in my habits; they don’t all need to be attempted at first, but the first two are the most critical. I’m sure there are more than this, but these ideas are a good start; and please comment if you have any other ideas:
- In everything you do, send up petitions for wisdom and strength, consecrating it to God, and carry out every duty as an offering to God.
John 15:5; ST 8/7/1884, par. 13 - In everything give thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 113:3; 5MR 118.2 - Stand in the gap and intercede. Pray for each person that you think about or engage with during the day. Focus on different people groups according to the days of the week. Here is an example: (1) brothers in the Messiah, (2) sisters in the Messiah, (3) family, (4) friends, (5) neighbors, (6) civil leaders and (7) spiritual leaders.
Ezekiel 22:30 - Praise God—as you look for and live for His glory, especially when in hardship (viewing such times as opportunities to praise Him more).
Psalm 117; Psalm 140 - Claim Scriptures and promises, living by every word of God. Recite them off and on throughout the day.
Matthew 4:4; YI 7/28/1892, par. 4
(You might carry Scripture cards in your pocket and pull one out as you have free moments. We make cards from the Scriptures that stick out to us during our devotional readings.) - Frequently call upon the powerful Name of the Messiah as you have need, and ask Him to live His life in you.
1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:9 - Say “I will” statements based on God‘s Word.
Lt 14, 1884, par. 15-17 - When you are tempted or having a difficult time overcoming something, agonize with God in prayer, even if it means into the night or fasting.
Lt 7a, 1886, par. 12 - Sprinkle the Lord‘s prayer throughout the day – a default prayer if you can think of nothing else, but a very glorious one.
Ms 222, 1902, par. 2; RH 1/3/1907, par. 5 - Spend time in nature, God‘s handiwork, communing with Him there.
BEcho 8/7/1899, par. 4 - Feel after God by searching for Him—in the Word, in nature, and in all of life’s events—acknowledging Him as you find Him. See Him in all things. Listen for Him.
MH 58.3; Acts 17:27; Jer. 29:13; Ed 102, 120; 5T 651.3 - And when you’re not speaking or listening, simply have an awareness of His presence and of His angels.
5T 628.1 - Let your mind meditate on the Messiah on the cross, the Messiah in the sanctuary, and of heaven/eternity. Also, meditate on how the Messiah would live His life in you.
CE 57.1; 3SP 168.1; ST 12/8/1890, par. 3 - Discern the Messiah‘s body in every meal, partaking of His life that is in your food as a shadow of His spiritual life; this principle also applies to drinking water, breathing fresh air, and absorbing sunshine, since the life of God is in it all.
1 Corinthians 11:29; DA 660.3; Ed 197.5. - Bless mankind and to be one with your brothers and sisters in the Messiah, thus fulfilling the Messiah‘s prayer and will for you.
5T 633.3; 20MR 343.4; 15MR 88.2
This is all in addition to having formal prayers at your evening, morning, and midday worship times, if not also at the third and ninth hours, where you kneel and pray with uplifted hands and eyes, entering the Most Holy Place by faith to meet with the King of Kings, with all solemn reverence. During the day, it is instead like sending telegrams via the angels, thus not requiring you to pray in the same formal manner. Your prayers might often be very short sentences that you dart off, or even a few words you speak to your own soul in the spirit of prayer as the psalmist did.
A Life of Prayer is a Life of Sacrifice
Prayer, especially of praise and thanksgiving, is described in the Bible as sacrifice: “By [the Messiah] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Prayer is sacrifice because it means giving up all of our time and mental powers to be used for God‘s glory from whatever we were used to doing before that. We have everything to gain from it, but it is still sacrifice and takes dedication and diligence. In light of all this, before we do a new task, we should offer it up to God in prayer, asking for His wisdom and strength to cheerfully do whatever it is with efficiency and excellence that He may be glorified.
Everything we do will thus have meaning and will be done unto the Messiah in sacrificial love. With this mindset, with this life of prayer, there will be no thought of complaint, because our minds will not be on ourselves since we are doing everything for God, not ourselves or our boss or our ministry or our family. God alone is to be kept before us continually, and this love for God will flow out in love for others and they will see God‘s character shining through us. This is also a life of faith, because while living in this world of things seen we are dwelling on the things unseen – God, the Lamb, the angels, and heaven. So, may our thoughts only run in heavenly channels through prayer. It is an amazing, gratifying life and our full potential will be realized.
But there is one thing that will continually try to get in the way of this life of faith and prayer; there is one thing that will try to rob us of true joy and rob God and others of our service of love to them: our desires. This is again where sacrifice comes in—a moment by moment surrender.
Here is what we must understand, and it is extremely crucial. The Law of God points out the Way, and the Lord Jehoshua is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Our desires will by and by draw us off the pathway of holiness; this is because we all have a fallen flesh that wants to do fleshly things that may for a time bring pleasure, yet deplete contentment, which brings true joy. They draw us into selfishness. We may not feel like spending time with God. We might feel like doing other things more. We might experience things that make us feel like acting out anger, or we may feel like experiencing sensuality. We may feel like putting our own interests above the interests of others in a way that disadvantages them. These desires will continually seek to draw us out of the Way.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither He tempteth any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own desires, and enticed. Then the desire, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full-grown, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.
— James 1:12-16
The greek word translated to “err” is ‘planao’, which means to stray out of the way, and the apostle James tells us how to prevent that: by enduring temptation. This means to remain on the path, which, at times, is a path of suffering. We must endure the temptations to escape. What does this require? Sacrifice.
Our Lord Jehoshua did not want to drink the cup of the wrath of God that the Father had for Him to drink—which was our sins laid upon Him that He was to suffer. He knew that the cup would be so severe that every ounce of His flesh wanted it to pass from Him. But how did He resist this greatest temptation? “He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). By taking upon Him fallen human flesh, He was often tempted. But in all the lesser temptations He developed habits of obedience. And this is what enabled Him with withstand the ultimate test.
Like our Master, we need to learn to suffer, and endure it. This is what it means to sacrifice. How? By surrender. We need to expect temptations to come throughout the day and recognize them in the form of our “own desires”; and then when the temptation of desire comes—or better, even before a feeling comes, as soon as something we like or dislike presents itself—in prayer we can simply say, “I surrender.” We should always be watching unto prayer, so that we are watching first for things that we know have caused temptations for us in the past. Then we have a chance to surrender before passions have a chance to erupt, as they often quickly do.
And watch what will happen when we do this—it is amazing and miraculous:
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness…
What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him…
Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.
— Steps to Christ, pp. 43, 47, 48
Our desires are part of ourselves. Not all desires are evil, but studying the sacred Word—especially the Law of God and the life of the Messiah—will give us discernment of what is evil, and hence what we are to surrender when it begins to draw us; then it will not conceive and bear sin. And each time we surrender a desire that draws us from the Way, it will be easier to surrender the next time; habits of holiness will more and more readily form.
The sacrificial practice of surrender will especially come into play on the Sabbath Day—and the Bible standard of its observance is much higher than is commonly practiced by professed Sabbath-keepers. We will be drawn to think things, say things, do things, and move things in violation of the Sabbath principle of resting in finished creation. If it were properly observed, it would increase our habits of surrendering our will more than anything else, which is the point. The end goal is a perfect creation of righteous character in us, and this is what we will need to make it through the final time of trouble when there will be no more sacrifice for sins.
Let us practice, practice, practice in the fear of the Messiah and for His honor and glory. This is something we must really strive for. He will help us, but only if we are putting effort into it, showing heaven that this is really the life we want to live; and it is to be our whole life – the life of prayer. I hope this will be a real blessing to you.
A Final Word from the Spirit of Prophecy
I quoted a single sentence from this letter earlier; now I want to share with you the whole paragraph. Really absorb this divine counsel, friends.
A life of true piety is a life of constant usefulness. The work must be accomplished through faith and prayer. This is the subject that stirs my soul to its depths. The life of prayer is the strength of true godliness. Our faith must be revealed to the world as a living, acting faith, bringing in its train all the Christian graces. The great and glorious work committed to us in acting a part in the plan of salvation is wonderfully high and exalted. We cannot weigh its merits. We are to walk by faith; and as we strive to appreciate the possibilities, and realize the immensity of the plan of salvation, it is our privilege to pray with the apostle Paul, that we may be able to “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of God, which passeth knowledge.” Lift Him up, the Man of Calvary. Let the mind dwell upon the beauties of His character, until by beholding, you become changed into the same image. A life of prayer and faith will lead us to speak of His praise and tell of His power.
— E.G. White, Letter 28, 1907
The Mystery of the Mirror
Finally, to help you, in a very practical way, with beholding the Messiah throughout the day, if you have not done so yet, please read and meditate on the short article called “The Mystery of the Mirror.” This mirror concept is at the very heart of the gospel but it is a mystery to many, because it is often missed. So, please don’t miss that.
The Life of Prayer
We seek a revival in the soul, a Godliness sincere
The greatest, most urgent of all our needs, to banish doubt and fear
Not outward change alone will hold, for that desire must start
Within an unceasing life with God, a fire in the heart
The strength we seek, the purity true, the life we must attain
It’s etched within the counsel true, for us to understand
(Chorus)
Oh, the life of prayer, the unbroken union
Every single breath, a sweet communion
Inhaling His grace, message is sent
Exhaling our service, our spirit is bent
It’s not just “Amen,” it’s a constant design
The life of prayer is the strength that is mine
The joy of Jehovah, your strength it is true
In unceasing surrender, He lives in and through you
To pray without ceasing is the call
From Thessalonians said
A way of life, not merely words before the day is dead
Some of it is listening for Christ’s soft voice inside
Some of it is setting Him before us where we will abide
Diligent we must be, let nothing hinder the flow
From God’s life to ours, then back in purity and in glow
The recipe is simple, it can be simmered down and clear
Joyfully serving Jehovah while looking and listening near
A sprinkling of praise, petition, and thanks in everything we do
For in every moment we live in pride, or we live in prayer, it’s true
We’re not our own, our temple belongs to the Spirit and His might
So let no Google search or website break the bond of light
This life is a sacrifice, a dedication of our time
Giving up the self-will, to reach a higher clime
More desires will draw us away
To the things that turn and stray
But we must endure the temptation, and surrender all the way
Not by our own might can the heart be changed
We simply choose His will
And that choice will ally us with power on Calvary’s hill
(Chorus)
Oh, the life of prayer, the unbroken union
Every single breath, a sweet communion
Inhaling His grace, message is sent
Exhaling our service, our spirit is bent
It’s not just “Amen,” it’s a constant design
The life of prayer is the strength that is mine
The joy of Jehovah, your strength it is true
In unceasing surrender, He lives in and through you
In everything give thanks and claim His promises divine
Blessing and interceding, letting Christ’s character shine
Let your thoughts run in heavenly channels, dwell on the Lamb
Behold Him and be changed, this is His glorious plan
A life of prayer, a life of faith
Surrender everyday
Lift up the Man of Calvary
And walk the way.
Pray Without Ceasing
A revival is the urgent need we face,
And true godliness must hold the foremost place.
The life of prayer is where its strength resides,
The zeal we seek, where true piety abides.
For outward forms will not be desired nor hold,
Unless this unbroken communion makes us bold.
This is the life of soul, the very vital art,
To plead with God until it’s fixed within the heart.
This prayer is not just words that end in ‘Amen,’
It is the whole of life, again and again.
“Pray without ceasing,” the Scriptures command,
The unbroken union in this mortal land.
As breath flows in, we draw His life and light,
And from our soul, send holiness and service pure and bright.
Inhaling life eternal, the messages He sends,
Exhaling worship back to God, for all the grace He lends.
The strength we seek is found in joy, we know,
For the joy of Jehovah makes our spirit glow.
To serve with gladness, through toil and trial’s cost,
No burden here, no moment ever lost.
Serving the self is a continual burden’s shame,
But satisfaction is found within His Name.
Since all that matters is to do His will alone,
His well-pleasing service is what we make our own.
In every moment, we must choose to stand,
Between the grip of pride and the praying hand.
For if not serving God, we’re serving self alone,
Where humble praise is turned and placed upon our own.
Without asking God, we proudly depend on our might,
But prayer brings cheerful obedience to the light.
Where pride is present, complaining will be found,
But where there is prayer, only thankfulness is crowned.
This life of prayer is also a great sacrifice,
Giving up our own time and desires at any price.
Our natural cravings, our lusts, will draw us from The Way,
Seeking false pleasure that can never truly stay.
To endure temptation means to suffer and abide,
Like the Messiah did, when He was tried and crucified.
The desires that tempt us, the longings of the heart,
Must be surrendered to the Messiah, setting life apart.
The yielding of self is the hardest battle won,
But we can choose to serve Him, following God’s Son.
In constant yielding, a change will be complete,
And we will walk in purity with consecrated feet.
A life of faith and service, more precious than all gold,
A freedom on its wings, a story to be told.
This is the true force, the choice the Spirit brings,
A constant surrender on its consecrated wings.
Let your mind rest on Calvary, where love was clearly shown,
And by beholding Jehoshua, make His character your own.
For life is service, begun and practiced every hour,
A joyful, tireless giving, beneath His mighty power.
A life of prayer is strength, and peace untold,
The great and glorious work, majestic, brave, and bold.