First recorded in Exodus 15:1 (and believed to be the oldest song that has been preserved), this hymn-prayer originally celebrated Israel’s freedom from Egypt’s bondage. In heaven it will be sung to honor the infinite and holy glory of the Lord and His victory over the shackles of sin and death.
The records of prayer’s achievements are encouraging to faith, cheering to the expectations of saints, and an inspiration to all who would pray and test its value. Prayer is no mere untried theory. It is not some strange unique scheme, concocted in the brains of people, and set on foot by them, an invention which has never been tried nor put to the test. Prayer is a Divine arrangement in the moral government of God, designed for the benefit of all and intended as a means for furthering the interests of His cause on earth, and carrying out His gracious purposes in redemption and providence. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
God’s only condition and limitation of prayer is found in the character of the one who prays. The measure of our faith and praying is the measure of His giving. Like as our Lord said to the blind man, “According to your faith be it unto you,” so it is the same in praying, “According to the measure of your asking, be it unto you.” God measures the answer according to the prayer. He is limited by the law of prayer in the measure of the answers He gives to prayer. As is the measure of prayer, so will be the answer. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
Really the promises of God to prayer have been pared down by us to our little faith, and have been brought down to the low level of our narrow notions about God’s ability, liberality and resources. Let us ever keep in mind and never for one moment allow ourselves to doubt the statement that God means what He says in all of His promises. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
The prayer force in God’s government is as strong as any other force, and all natural and other forces must give way before the force of prayer. Sun, moon and stars are under God’s control in answer to prayer. Rain, sunshine and drought obey His will. “Fire and hail, snow and fog, stormy wind fulfilling his word.” Disease and health are governed by Him. All, all things in heaven and earth, are absolutely under the control of Him who made heaven and earth, and who governs all things according to His own will. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
In the fearful contest in this world between God and the devil, between good and evil, and between heaven and hell, prayer is the mighty force for overcoming Satan, giving dominion over sin, and defeating hell. Only praying leaders are to be counted on in this dreadful conflict. Praying believers alone are to be put to the front. These are the only sort who are able to successfully contend with all the evil forces. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
To “pray without ceasing,” to pray in everything, and to pray everywhere -- these commands of continuity are expressive of the sleepless energy of prayer, of the exhaustless possibilities of prayer, and of its exacting necessity. Prayer can do all things. Prayer must do all things. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
God is everywhere, watching, superintending, overseeing, governing everything in the highest interest of His church, and carrying forward His plans and executing His purposes in creation and redemption. He is not an absentee God. He did not make the world with all that is in it, and turn it over to so-called natural laws, and then retire into the secret places of the universe having no regard for it or for the working of His laws. His hand is on the throttle. The work is not beyond His control. Earth’s inhabitants and its affairs are not running independent of Almighty God. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)
Luther is quoted as once saying: “The Christian’s trade is praying.” Certainly, for a great reason, the preacher’s trade should be praying. We fear greatly that many preachers know nothing of this trade of praying, and hence they never succeed at this trade. A severe apprenticeship in the trade of praying must be served in order to become a journeyman in it. Not only is it true that there are few journeymen at work at this praying trade, but numbers have never even been apprentices at praying. No wonder so little is accomplished by them. God and the supernatural are left out of their programs. (Adapted from E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer)