Chapter the First:
The call to prayer is the Father’s invitation to visit with Him. This is more than the consciousness of a great need that often drives us to intercession. It is the call of Love to come and Fellowship. It is really visiting with the Father. Few of us have realized the fact that the Father’s heart is hungry for the companionship of His children. His heart hunger is the reason for man and the reason for redemption, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” That love impels Him to call us to prayer. That call is the proof of our ability to stand in His presence. It is the proof of His making us righteous enough to stand in His presence without reproof or condemnation. It means that we are ever welcome to the throne Room. How few of us have ever realized this. It is sons visiting their Father. It is children coming joyously into the presence of a Loving Parent. He does not demand Faith of His Children. He doesn’t say “Now if you believe” or “If you have faith” or “If you loved me”. He said that to the Jews, His servants, the men of the Broken Covenant, but He says to us “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” It is the Father’s invitation to the Throne Room of Love. What prayer is Prayer is our need crying out for help. Prayer is the voice of Faith to the Father. Prayer is born then of sense of need, and the assurance that the need will be met. Unbelief cannot pray; it can only utter words. Prayer is the living Word in lips of Faith. It is holding His Word up to Him in prayer like a mirror. He sees himself in His word. He said it. He promised. You hold that promise up to Him in prayer. You see, God and His Word are One, just as He and Jesus are One. He honored His Word by calling His Son, “The Word.” His Son, then, and the Word are One. He was with the Son, and in the Son; so He is the Word and with the Word today. When we quote the Word, we quote Him. When we rest on the Word, we rest on Him. His Word is my contact with Him. His Word in the lips of faith, is He Himself speaking. Then we are speaking His Word back to Him. We hold His Word as a bank holds our note. Just as we have collateral to make the note good, God has ability to make His Word good. Prayer then is facing God with man’s needs, with His promise to meet those needs. He taught us to pray. He taught us to trust His Word. Prayer is a part of God’s program for us. He encourages us to act on His Word. He is one with us in this prayer life. It is His way of saving, healing, and blessing men. Jesus said in Luke 18:1; “Men ought always to pray and not faint.” I have two striking translations: “Men ought always to pray and not turn out badly,” or “Men ought always to pray and not cave in.” You see, prayer means vital contact with the Father. We are near enough to Him to breathe in His very presence. Prayer means that we have come boldly into the throne room and are standing in His presence. It is more than bringing Him on the scene. It is going into the presence of the Father and Jesus in an executive meeting, laying our needs before them and making our requisitions for ability, for grace, healing for someone, or victory for someone, or financial needs. Whatever that need may be, we are making demand upon Him. One day when the crowd was pressing around the Master, Jesus said, “Someone has touched me.” And they said, “Master, the multitude press thee and crush thee.” But He answered, “No, someone has made a demand upon my ability.” (20th Century Translation) That is a beautiful translation, and it is so suggestive. There cannot be any touching of the Master without the Master knowing it. When needs touch Him, it makes a demand upon His ability to meet that need; and prayer is the way in which we touch Him. Prayer keeps man in close contact with the Father and His Word. It is a constant communion with the father and it enriches one spiritually. It illuminates the word, and illuminates the mind; and it freshens and heals the body. A strange feature about this prayer life is that it reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth. When I pray for a man in London or in Africa my spirit can send to him through the Father, the blessings that he needs today. It is the original wireless method. it is the original radio means of communication. I speak here, and they are instantly blessed there. What a ministry!