.
And now, all ye who have anew entered the school of Christ to be taught to pray, take these lessons, practise them, and trust Him to perfect you in them. Dwell much in the inner chamber, with the door shut shut in from men, shut up with God; it is there the Father waits you, it is there Jesus will teach you to pray. To be alone in secret with THE FATHER: this be your highest joy. To be assured that THE FATHER will openly reward the secret prayer, so that it cannot remain unblessed: this be your strength day by day. And to know that THE FATHER knows that you need what you ask; this be your liberty to bring every need, in the assurance that your God will supply it according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus.
Lord, Teach Us to Pray
Blessed Saviour! with my whole heart I do bless Thee for the appointment of the inner chamber, as the school where Thou meetest each of Thy pupils alone, and revealest to him the Father. O my Lord! strengthen my faith so in the Father's tender love and kindness, that as often as I feel sinful or troubled, the first instinctive thought may be to go where I know the Father waits me, and where prayer never can go unblessed. Let the thought that He knows my need before I ask, bring me, in great restfulness of faith, to trust that He will give what His child requires. O let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot of earth.
And, Lord! hear me as I pray that Thou wouldest everywhere bless the closets of Thy believing people. Let Thy wonderful revelation of a Father's tenderness free all young Christians from every thought of secret prayer as a duty or a burden, and lead them to regard it as the highest privilege of their life, a joy and a blessing. Bring back all who are discouraged, because they cannot find ought to bring Thee in prayer. O give them to understand that they have only to come with their emptiness to Him who has all to give, and delights to do it. Not, what they have to bring the Father, but what the Father waits to give them, be their one thought.
And bless especially the inner chamber of all Thy servants who are working for Thee, as the place where God's truth and God's grace is revealed to them, where they are daily anointed with fresh oil, where their strength is renewed, and the blessings are received in faith, with which they are to bless their fellow-men. Lord, draw us all in the closet nearer to Thyself and the Father. Amen.
BIBLE PRAYER FELLOWSHIP
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER 3
Where was Jesus when He gave His disciples their first teaching on prayer?
What is the first thing Jesus taught about the place for prayer?
What light must shine in the prayer closet?
God hides Himself from what kind of eye?
Where does our spirit truly come in contact with the Invisible One?
What kind of heart keeps our loving Father's children from His presence?
How does Jesus assure us that our secret prayer cannot be fruitless?
What must we believe when we come to God in prayer?
What is the third word Christ speaks about God's Father love for us?
What should we do when there is a delay in the answer to our prayers?
"With Christ in the School of Prayer" by Rev. Andrew Murray. This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College. Questions provided by Rev. Rev. Oliver W. Price, Bible Prayer Fellowship