Sadhu Sundhar Singh on Prayer

"When we see a crane or heron standing motionless on the shore of a lake or pond, we might think it is meditating on the beauty of the water. But this is not so! The bird stands there for hours without moving, but as soon as it sees a frog or small fish, it darts forward and greedily snatches it. Many people have the same approach to prayer and meditation. Seated on the shore of the boundless ocean of God's love, they actually give no thought to his majesty or to the divine grace that cleanses us from sin and satisfies the hungry soul.

Instead, they are consumed by the thought of receiving something for themselves, some morsel to gratify their self-indulgence. Having visited the very source of true peace and bliss, they fail to appreciate it and instead give themselves to fleeting pleasures. The essence of prayer does not consist in asking for things, but in opening one 's heart to God. Prayer is continual abandonment to God. It is the desire for God himself, the giver of life. Prayer is communion with God, receiving him who is the giver of all good gifts, living a life of fellowship with him. It is breathing and living in God.

A little child will run to his mother exclaiming: "Mother! Mother!" The child does not necessarily want anything in particular. He only wants to be near his mother, to sit on her lap, or to follow her about the house. The child longs for the sheer pleasure of being near her, talking to her, hearing her voice. This is what makes him happy. It is just the same with those who are truly God's children. They do not trouble themselves with asking for spiritual blessings. They only want to sit at the Master's feet, to be in living touch with him; then they are supremely content.

Climate affects the form, color, and growth patterns of plants and flowers. In the jungle we often see insects that have taken on the form and color of the grass and green leaves on which they feed. In the snow of the North, the polar bear's fur has the same snowy whiteness. The Bengal tiger wears stripes on its skin like the reeds where it lives. Our spiritual environment similarly affects us. If we remain in communion with God, our habits and disposition ”“ even our appearance ”“ are all changed. To pray means to be on speaking terms with God, to be in communion with him and to be transformed into his likeness. We begin to take on a glorious and incorruptible spiritual nature."

"Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness know Him. He reveals Himself to such people -- those who spend time in prayer. We see our face sometimes not in a mirror but in a river, but when there are waves in the river we are not able to see ourselves. When our lives are full of hurry and bustle we fail to see ourselves, but in a quiet place we see ourselves and we shall be entirely changed -- a new life. Then we shall not be ashamed. We shall know Him by living with Him -- and we must live in Him through a life of prayer."

"The new-born child needs no instruction in drinking, but instinctively turns to its mother's breast for nourishment. For her part, the mother withholds no good gift from her child, but still the child cannot receive the mother's milk without effort. In the same way, we are carried at God's breast, but we must turn to God in prayer for the spiritual milk that sustains our souls."

Yea blain ,I feel the most important pray is the ministry to the lord as seen in the acts of the apostals, but this is forgotan, and replaced with petition meetings , for healing for material blessings ,,what God can do for us has become more important then God ,,,,,the measure of spiritual blessing we can get through petition meetings ,is not the same and wil not fill us with his spirit to a point where we become saints full of the spirit ,,

Our priority in prayer meetings should be expectant pray ,to be filled with God ,and out of that will flow the rest of secondary types of praying ,namely petitions,, Supplication is a lost or neglected art ,in the Christian life ,,,lets be supplicants regarding his spirit , poor Begeraly hungry for the bread from heaven above all other blessings of healings ,and temporary blessings ...

Thank you sister for sharing these devotionals. This is so rich, and it is really what is at the heart of prayer that all those that sought to seek God's face and not His hand wrote about.

I have often had the most wonderful fellowship with God going out in the woods or in the park, and spending time in the Lord's presence. This is so much better than the seeking of things, and if we truly seek the Kingdom of God first, then everything that we need in life will be provided for us.

Mike I would even go as far as saying that even healing miricals jobs ,safety and the list goes on are what the Gentiles seek ,and if we seek for the the kingdom of God ,all these things will be added,,,because God knows what we need ,,,,,,,,,so we can just believe God knows what we need acknowledge that we know that God knows what we need ,,,,and just seek the kingdom of God and his spirit ,rather then spend an hour praying for all this ,,,, ..

Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer,,and he taught the seeking of the holly spirit in a fevernt way ,hence why he gave the parable of getting loves,from th friend at night while the friend was in bed with his children ,,persistent seeking for the Holy Spirit ...

Gary, I agree with you that the Kingdom of God and His righteousness should be the main thing that we are seeking after, but there is a place in prayer that we can petition God for needs. Even in the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread."

We have not because we ask not. Jesus said that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, then we can ask whatever we will, and it shall be done for us. (John 15:7).

The point is that many Christians come to God with a big list of needs without spending time in true fellowship, praising and thanking Him for who He is and what He has done, and seeking to know Him, and to be changed by beholding His glory.

Yea I'm hearing ya,,,but also I notice how much it takes to say lord please give me bread ,,,and compare that to Christ teaching on prayer for the holy spirits fillings which he taught to press in for and continue asking ,,if I may say till that place was shaken as in the acts of the apostals ...

Not try to take away from the idea of petitions ,,but the lord what we need before we ask ,so seek the kingdom and all things will be added to us ,

I'm sure we can spend more time seeking the kingdom ,and less times praying through a list that takes an hour ,. A literal written paper list of needs

Do you have the faith to just lay the list of needs upon the alter so to speak ,and say amen thank you lord ,and exacise faith ,and then we can spend the next 45 mins out of the hour, seeking his kingdom spirit and his righteousness ,,,,,,,

I know you have that kind of faith imspeaking rhetoric .

Lord please give us this day our daily bread ,,and please answer our pray list scince you said it is your will if we abide ,,amen

Now let's get down to bisness,

Yep amen, just the simple broken wailing for more of Jesus , is the pray that I want the Holy Spirit to pray in me ,

That is where the unspeakable joy is ..

Have you ever noticed that even when we have our most fullest experience in the Holy Spirit,,we at that time morn for more of him ,for us and for the fallen world ,with a broken joy of indescribable emotions,that produce a pure thanks giving ,,,,,,,,I want that ,,,every thing else seems like a waste of time if I don't get more of that ..........

What a Devine Delemer

Amen! Thank you brothers for the blessing of what you've been sharing on this thread.

"If eggs are not properly hatched they become rotten. So we too are in danger of perishing from sin. But we are being prepared and we shall fly from our shell into our heavenly home. Even animals know their master but we don't know our Creator. We cannot change His will but through prayer we can understand His will. What is necessary for His will, will be given to us to carry out His plans.

We are being changed. When the egg is being hatched it is changed; then, in time, the chick will become like the mother-bird. The liquid matter is changed until it becomes a young bird which becomes like its mother. In prayer we are being hatched and changed and prepared to be like Him. All eggs do not get hatched. They need the Mother's warmth. So too we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit to make us warm. We must receive the warmth and heat from Him in prayer."

Thank you sister for sharing. I do not think the point that Sadhu brings here is not to ask for earthly things to God in prayer. But it is to not be occupied with earthly things and miss the fellowship with father.