The Prayer Life [Annotated, Updated]: Persevering in Prayer

by Andrew Murray

If you do not know how to spend half an hour in prayer, take up the subject of God’s holiness. Bow before Him. Give yourself time, and also give God time, that He and you may come into communion with one another. It is a great work, but one accompanied by great blessing. If you want to strengthen yourself in the practice of this Holy Presence, take up the Holy Word. Take, for example, the book of Leviticus; notice how God seven times gives the command, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy (11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8; 22:32). Still more frequent in the Bible is the expression, I am the Lord that doth sanctify you (see, for example, Exodus 31:13). This great thought is taken over into the New Testament. Peter says, Be ye holy in all manner of conversation; for it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Paul writes in his first epistle, that your hearts may be confirmed in holiness, irreprehensible before God (1 Thessalonians 3:13); God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:7); and Faithful is he that has called you, who will also do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Nothing but the knowledge of God, as the Holy One, will make us holy. How are we to obtain that knowledge of God, except in the inner chamber?