The supreme argument for prayer is Jesus Christ. He lived the most meaningful life ever lived. The fact that he relied so very much on prayer as a source of strength and guidance is the one unanswerable argument for us to rely on prayer also.
The person who would live a happy, meaningful, and victorious life must also learn the secret of prayer. The equipment of prayer is simple, but it is not always secured. What’s the secret of an effective prayer life?
1. A quiet place. Everyone needs a place where he can get away from the noise and traffic of life and meditate. For a student living in a dormitory, for the mother of a large family, and for other busy people, a quiet place may not be easy to find. It may have to be in a closed room, a favorite spot in the country, or even at the church, but a quiet place is almost a necessity.
2. A quiet time. Things left to chance are usually left out. Everyone needs a definite time for prayer. Jesus often got up for prayer “a great while before day.” If we wait until our day gets full, prayer will be crowded out. In the pressure of life it seems that the first things people drop are the spiritual things. Set a definite time each day for prayer.
3. A quiet heart. In this nervous and tense age, we all need the ability to wait on and listen to God. The person who waits on God loses no time. If a man is to be forever “giving out” of himself to others, there must be at least some time for “taking in.” The man who is sharpening his hoe is not losing time. Neither is the man who is praying.
Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Why don’t you try it and see for yourself?