Lamentations 3:41

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very beneficial lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favors without constraining us to pray for them, we would never know how poor we are; but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty.

While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits. Thus, the use of prayer is significant because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be—in the very dust.

Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, so that they may learn to mount above the clouds.

Prayer girds the loins of God’s warriors and sends them out to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader comes out of his closet, even as the sun arises from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians.

Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We do not know what prayer cannot do! We thank you, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of your marvelous lovingkindness. Help us to use it rightly throughout this day!