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Effective Prayer
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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About the author
J. Oswald Sanders
128 books95 followersJ. OSWALD SANDERS (1902-1992) was a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and authored more than forty books on the Christian life including The Incomparable Christ, Spiritual Discipleship, Spiritual Leadership, and Spiritual Maturity. He left a promising law practice in his native New Zealand to serve as an instructor and administrator at the Bible College of New Zealand. Dr. Sanders later became general director of the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship), and was instrumental in beginning many new missions projects throughout East Asia.
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April 8, 2022
A short, yet potent, exposition on the different characteristics of prayer that are found throughout the Scriptures. It challenges, convicts, and encourages.
4.4/5
“Is it not strange that in spite of our conviction of its privilege and necessity, we are all plagued with a subtle aversion to praying? We do not naturally delight in drawing near to God.”
“It would appear that God acted on the principle of faith in the creation of the world. When He said to nonexistent light, “Let there be light,” there was light. It is this same kind of creative faith we are called to exercise, the very faith of God.”
“It is easy to become a fatalist in reference to prayer. It is easier to regard unanswered prayer as the will of God than to deliberately reason out the causes of defeat… Perhaps our reluctance to analyze our failures in prayer is rooted in a mistaken solicitude for God’s honor. God is more honored when we ruthlessly face our failure and diligently search for its cause than when we piously ignore it.”
“An analysis of our prayers might afford the disconcerting discovery that many of them are not the prayer of faith at all, only the prayer of hope, or even despair. We earnestly hope they will be answered, but have no unshakable assurance to answer only the prayer of faith.”
“It has been said that God’s only limitation and condition of prayer is found in the character of the one who prays – ‘According to your faith be it unto you.’”
“A promise by God is a pledge by God. It provides the warrant and forms the basis of the prayer of faith. The stability of a promise rests upon the character and resources of the one who makes it, even as the value of a check depends on the probity and resources of the one who signs it. The character and fidelity of God vouch for the credibility of the promises He makes.”
“Promises must be distinguished from facts. We accept a stated fact of God’s Word, but we plead a promise. When God proclaims a fact, faith accepts and acts upon it. When God makes a promise, we comply with its conditions, claim its fulfillment and receive the promised favor. The function of the prayer of faith is to turn God’s promises into facts of experience.”
“The prayer of faith has its basis in neither outward circumstances nor inward feelings. It is when sight brings no helpful vision and comfortable emotions are largely absent that the prayer of faith finds its greatest opportunity. It springs from the naked promise or affirmation of the Word of God, for faith proceeds only from a divine warrant. The prayer of faith is the power which converts promises into performance.”
“The process of prayer and answer are not irrational. Indeed God encourages argument in prayer. While He requires submission to His revealed will, He is not pleased with languid passivity… We are invited to muster and present the strongest possible arguments for our petition and to press it with logic and vigor.”
“Strong spiritual leaders usually have strong praying mothers… Praying Samuels come from praying Hannahs.”
“There will always be time for everything that is within the will of God.”
4.4/5
“Is it not strange that in spite of our conviction of its privilege and necessity, we are all plagued with a subtle aversion to praying? We do not naturally delight in drawing near to God.”
“It would appear that God acted on the principle of faith in the creation of the world. When He said to nonexistent light, “Let there be light,” there was light. It is this same kind of creative faith we are called to exercise, the very faith of God.”
“It is easy to become a fatalist in reference to prayer. It is easier to regard unanswered prayer as the will of God than to deliberately reason out the causes of defeat… Perhaps our reluctance to analyze our failures in prayer is rooted in a mistaken solicitude for God’s honor. God is more honored when we ruthlessly face our failure and diligently search for its cause than when we piously ignore it.”
“An analysis of our prayers might afford the disconcerting discovery that many of them are not the prayer of faith at all, only the prayer of hope, or even despair. We earnestly hope they will be answered, but have no unshakable assurance to answer only the prayer of faith.”
“It has been said that God’s only limitation and condition of prayer is found in the character of the one who prays – ‘According to your faith be it unto you.’”
“A promise by God is a pledge by God. It provides the warrant and forms the basis of the prayer of faith. The stability of a promise rests upon the character and resources of the one who makes it, even as the value of a check depends on the probity and resources of the one who signs it. The character and fidelity of God vouch for the credibility of the promises He makes.”
“Promises must be distinguished from facts. We accept a stated fact of God’s Word, but we plead a promise. When God proclaims a fact, faith accepts and acts upon it. When God makes a promise, we comply with its conditions, claim its fulfillment and receive the promised favor. The function of the prayer of faith is to turn God’s promises into facts of experience.”
“The prayer of faith has its basis in neither outward circumstances nor inward feelings. It is when sight brings no helpful vision and comfortable emotions are largely absent that the prayer of faith finds its greatest opportunity. It springs from the naked promise or affirmation of the Word of God, for faith proceeds only from a divine warrant. The prayer of faith is the power which converts promises into performance.”
“The process of prayer and answer are not irrational. Indeed God encourages argument in prayer. While He requires submission to His revealed will, He is not pleased with languid passivity… We are invited to muster and present the strongest possible arguments for our petition and to press it with logic and vigor.”
“Strong spiritual leaders usually have strong praying mothers… Praying Samuels come from praying Hannahs.”
“There will always be time for everything that is within the will of God.”
Displaying 1 of 1 review