Pastor Lindell Ballenger

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

Prayer was the key to the life and ministry of Jesus. We must be faithful to consistently pray as never before and teach others to do the same. Following is a quote from one of my favorite books, “The Power of Prayer” by E. M. Bounds (1835-1913) who urgently and unflaggingly called men to pray and teach others to do so:

 “Where are the Christ-like leaders who can teach modern saints how to pray and get them busy at it? … Let them come forward and do it, and it will be the greatest of all possible ministry. More educational facilities and a great increase of financial power will be the worst curse to religion if they are not sanctified by more and better praying than we are now doing… Nothing but a specific effort from a praying leadership will avail. Senior leaders must lead in an effort to root the vital importance and practice of prayer in the heart and life of God’s people. None but praying leaders can have praying followers. Praying leaders will beget praying saints. A praying pulpit will beget praying pews…

The great need of the Church in this and every age is men and women of such commanding faith, such untarnished holiness, such striking spiritual vigor and consuming zeal, that their prayers, faith, lives, and ministry will be so radical and aggressive as to work spiritual revolutions” (Power of Prayer, Ch. 20, condensed).

Amid the battle, we possess resources our enemies know nothing about: truth, love, righteousness, grace, peace, the presence of the LORD and the power of prayer. These motivate, strengthen and enable us to press on, overcome setbacks and endure, knowing that life and the future is in the Lord’s hands and he has destined us to be “more than conquerors.”