American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 30
ARC Prayer Meeting
C.H. Spurgeon, known as the Prince of Preachers, stated, “The ship of prayer may sail through all temptations, doubts and fears, straight up to the throne of God; and though she may be outward bound with only griefs, and groans, and sighs, she shall return freighted with a wealth of blessings!”
According to Spurgeon, prayer is not a pristine, carefree, and smooth communitive transaction between God and His people. It is like Paul setting sail to go before Caesar as a testimony of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Acts 27, 28). There were storms, danger, shipwreck, snake bites, and a host of other challenges associated with fulfilling God’s purposes and will in the earth.
If prayer was as natural and easy as breathing, more would be committed to making it a part of their lives like Anna of old. The Scriptures attest to this woman’s commitment to prayer, “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38). Who do you know today that has consecrated themselves to prayer and fasting as this handmaiden of the Lord?
Though wrought with temptations, doubts, and fears, the godly saint perseveres. The prayer warrior disciplines the mind to reach up in faith to the throne of God’s grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Outwardly, the intercessor may know only griefs, groans, and sighs as one seeks God, inwardly one is guaranteed “she shall return freighted with a wealth of blessing.” The Apostle Paul assures us, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Notice the extreme contrast and remember this is the Apostle Paul who endured much redemptive suffering for the cause of Christ. “Light affliction,” “working for us,” “eternal weight of glory.”
