The Hour That Changes the World: A Practical Plan for Personal Prayer

by Dick Eastman

“Apostasy begins in the closet. No man ever backslid from the life and power of Christianity who continued constant and fervent in private prayer. He who prays without ceasing is likely to rejoice evermore.”

Only as we apply our knowledge of prayer to the actual practice of prayer will we discover the practical power of prayer.

They knew the secret was in “doing,” not merely in “knowing.”

Especially be careful not to become a slave to any “prayer system.” Indeed, prayer is not a system at all but the development of a relationship between man and God. The highest goal of the devotional habit is to strengthen this relationship.

I could either sleep or pray. I chose the latter—a decision I shall never regret.

Waiting on the Lord is basically the silent surrendering of the soul to God.

Praise cries boldly, “God, I see these excellent qualities in your nature.” Waiting says softly, “God, I love you.”

A spare ten or fifteen minutes here and there, listening to the latest cassette of a noted minister, or reading a bestseller on Christian growth, will never provide the food needed for true spiritual development. Building a friendship takes much time.

“The one fact we forget is that the saints of old were capable of spiritual silence simply because they had not contracted our modern habit of ceaseless talk in their ordinary life. Their days were days of silence, relieved by periods of conversation, while ours are a wilderness of talk with a rare oasis of silence.”

Confession is a heartfelt recognition of what we are.

According to Scripture there can be no effective prayer life where sin maintains its grip in the life of the believer.

Until known sin is fully dealt with, we are not ready to pray.

“Before you pray for a change in circumstances, you should pray for a change in character.”

Sin causes indifference, and it is impossible for indifferent people to change the world.

One’s attitude is crucial to dynamic praying. Bitterness toward others drains prayer of power.