Hello all!
I love that Hallesby does not try to sugarcoat the fact that prayer can be so difficult for many. His encouragement to strive and his definition of striving are so helpful. “To strive in prayer means to struggle through those hindrances which would restrain or even prevent us entirely from continuing in persevering prayer. It means to be watchful at all times so we can notice when we become slothful in prayer and go to the Spirit of prayer to have this remedied.” He calls for us to be honest about our hindrances and to pray even while these things attempt to hinder us.
And, of course, he reminds us that this is God’s work. In particular, he is telling us that God is working in us when we wrestle in prayer. God knows what we need before we ask, but He wants us to ask for our sake. Maybe over and over again. He wants to lead us into humility through all things, and prayer is no different. He wants us to be willing to give us our comfort and our self-centeredness in all things, and prayer is no different. When we focus on God and trust what He can do through prayer – not just give us precisely what we ask for! – it makes prayer an experience with God.
What did you all think?
