An Audience with the King

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” — Psalm 55:17 (KJV)

Torrey was famous for prayer, and he says that the person who wants to succeed in the Christian life “must lead a life of prayer.”

He quotes James: “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” Many Christians wonder why they have so little victory and so little power. Torrey says the answer is often simply that they don’t pray.

He recommends setting apart regular times for prayer. David prayed evening, morning and noon. Daniel prayed three times a day. Torrey says you can also pray anywhere, while walking or sitting at your desk, but you need set times when you go alone with God.

Then he describes what prayer really is:

“Prayer is a wonderful privilege. It is an audience with the King. It is talking to our Father.”

He points out that when someone is invited to meet a king, they don’t ask, “How little time can I spend with him?” They ask, “How much time will the king give me?” Prayer is like that. It isn’t a chore to get over with. It is a privilege.

His most practical tip is about the start of the day. Begin with thanks for what God has done, and prayer for what you need today. Think ahead about the temptations you are likely to face, and ask God for strength before they come.

“Anticipate your battles, fight them on your knees before temptation comes and you will always have victory.”

He points to Jesus in Gethsemane. Jesus prayed the night before the cross and faced it with strength; the disciples slept and, when the test came, they ran away.

Try it. Before school, think about the day ahead: the lesson you’re dreading, the person who winds you up, the temptation you know will come. Pray about each one. Win the battle before it starts.

One thing to do this week: each morning this week, before you leave the house, spend five minutes thanking God, then thinking through your day and praying about the hardest moments ahead.