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The Secret of Power in Prayer
This is a sermon by Spurgeon on John 15:7 - "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Spurgeon helps us to see what the special blessing of power in prayer is, how we may obtain it, and why it should be so obtained. He encourages us to abide in Christ so that we may see our prayers answered.
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
5,989 books1,618 followersCharles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church (formerly pastored by the famous Baptist theologian, John Gill). The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues, Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000—all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861, the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 28, 2025
"The best praying Christian is the one who knows and believes the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God's promises to Him and saying, 'my Lord, do as You have said that you would do.'"
A very helpful and humbling reminder of how timid we can be to approach God with our prayers and petitions and how we ought to come before the throne of grace with confidence, for our Father hears our prayers and delights to answer them.
Great quick read/listen.
A very helpful and humbling reminder of how timid we can be to approach God with our prayers and petitions and how we ought to come before the throne of grace with confidence, for our Father hears our prayers and delights to answer them.
Great quick read/listen.
July 24, 2024
“Eternal love appointed a way of mercy from before the foundation of the world, an infinite wisdom is engaged with boundless power to carry out the divine design. Surely the Lord must take much pleasure in saving the sons of men.”
This was a poetical and engaging read. I learned a lot about praying through pleading the blood of Jesus and exclamatory prayer as exercised through Nehemiah. This book broadened my understanding of prayer as a method through which God displays his sovereign will. Beautiful and would highly recommend.
This was a poetical and engaging read. I learned a lot about praying through pleading the blood of Jesus and exclamatory prayer as exercised through Nehemiah. This book broadened my understanding of prayer as a method through which God displays his sovereign will. Beautiful and would highly recommend.
January 31, 2023
A great, quick read with real depth into the posture of prayer. This is an encouraging book that helps redefine how you view God in prayer as well as how prayer is an effective tool and way of connection with God.
April 29, 2019
The first book I've read by Spurgeon.
April 16, 2012
I have never to this day heard a sermon on prayer, just saying that the Church I feel has lost its passion for Prayer.
December 19, 2017
This booklet is based upon a sermon delivered by the Prince of Preacher, Charles Spurgeon on the topic of prayer. I was looking for a short devotional work to encourage my prayer life and this certainly encouraged me to appreciate the privilege of praying to God. This work is based upon the verse John 15:7. John 15:7 in the NASB states, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Although Spurgeon preached this message back in 1888 it is relevant even for today, which is a testimony of Spurgeon’s faithful preaching of the Bible, which of course is always relevant for our spiritual life.
The booklet has three points phrased in the form of questions. The first question Spurgeon asked is “What is this special blessing?” Here he looks at the phrase “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” The second question Spurgeon asked is “How is this special blessing obtained?” This looks at the section of the verse that states “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you.” Finally the last question asked “Why is it obtained in this way?”
Both the second question and the third question has two points as the answer to each respective question; Spurgeon does a great job of warming our hearts towards the Lord with the precious doctrine of union with Christ and the fullness and richness of Christ in answering those questions. I enjoyed the second section a lot and I appreciated the good exhortation that one must keep one’s faith in Christ even while being purged for God is working!
Although this work was short I ended up highlighting much of the contents. Here are some memorable quotes:
First question
“Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus”
“Some brethren pray by the yard; but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length.”
Second question
“We are to abide in him, by always trusting him, and him only, with the same simple faith which joined us to him at the first.”
“But abiding in the Lord Jesus does not only mean trusting in him; it includes our yielding ourselves up to him to receive his life, and to let that life work out its results in us. We live in him, by him, for him, to him, when we abide in him.”
“The vine needs the branch as truly as the branch needs the vine. No vine ever bore any fruit except upon its branches. Truly it bears all the branches, and so bears all the fruit; but yet it is by the branch that the vine displays its fruitfulness”
“Let him be the object, as well as the source, of your existence”
“When you see the work of the Spirit increasing in you, do not let the devil tempt you to boast that now you are somebody, and need not come to Jesus as a poor sinner, and rest in his precious blood alone for salvation. Abide still in Jesus.”
“The fruit of the branch must come forth of the stem. Your work for Christ must be Christ’s work in you, or else it will be good for nothing.”
” We cannot separate Christ from the Word; for, in the first place, he is the Word; and, in the next place, how dare we call him Master and Lord and do not the things which he says, and reject the truth which he teaches?”
III. Third question
“Do you desire the grace of the Spirit? Go to your Lord’s anointing. Do you seek holiness? Go to his example. Do you desire pardon of sin? Look to his blood. Do you need mortification of sin? Look to his crucifixion. Do you need to be buried to the world? Go to his tomb. Do you want to feel the fulness of a heavenly life? Behold his resurrection. Would you rise above the world? Mark his ascension. Would you contemplate heavenly things? Remember his session at the right hand of God, and know that he “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places.” I see clearly enough why the branch gets all it wants while it abides in the stem, since all it wants is already in the stem, and is placed there for the sake of the branch. What does the branch want more than the stem can give it? If it did want more it could not get it; for it has no other means of living but by sucking its life out of the stem.”
“The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to him, and saying to him, “Do as thou hast said.””
“Study what Jesus has said, what the Holy Ghost has left on record in this divinely-inspired Book, and in proportion as you feed on the Word, and are filled with the Word, and retain the Word in your faith, and obey the Word in your life—in that proportion you will be a master-man in the art of prayer. You have acquired skill as a wrestler with the covenant angel in proportion as you can plead the promises of your faithful God.”
“You clearly see that the holy God cannot pick up a common man in the street, and say to him, “I will give you whatsoever you will.” What would he ask for? He would ask for a good drink, or permission to enjoy himself in evil lust. It would be very unsafe to trust the most of men with permit”
“Behold, the great Father treats us in our measure as he treats his Firstborn. Jesus could say, “I know that thou hearest me always”; and the Lord is educating us to the selfsame assurance. We can say with one of old, “My God will hear me”
“I call your attention to the fact that in that fifteenth chapter, the ninth verse, which I did not read this morning, runs thus:—“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” The same love which God gives to his Son, the Son gives to us; and therefore we are dwellers in the love of the Father and of the Son. How can our prayers be rejected? Will not infinite love have respect unto our petitions?”
“If there were no hell hereafter, it is hell enough not to know Christ now, not to know what it is to prevail with God in prayer, not to know the choice privilege of abiding in him, and his words abiding in you. “
Even with all the quotes in this review it is still worth reading this booklet because there’s so much packed in this work.
The booklet has three points phrased in the form of questions. The first question Spurgeon asked is “What is this special blessing?” Here he looks at the phrase “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” The second question Spurgeon asked is “How is this special blessing obtained?” This looks at the section of the verse that states “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you.” Finally the last question asked “Why is it obtained in this way?”
Both the second question and the third question has two points as the answer to each respective question; Spurgeon does a great job of warming our hearts towards the Lord with the precious doctrine of union with Christ and the fullness and richness of Christ in answering those questions. I enjoyed the second section a lot and I appreciated the good exhortation that one must keep one’s faith in Christ even while being purged for God is working!
Although this work was short I ended up highlighting much of the contents. Here are some memorable quotes:
First question
“Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus”
“Some brethren pray by the yard; but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length.”
Second question
“We are to abide in him, by always trusting him, and him only, with the same simple faith which joined us to him at the first.”
“But abiding in the Lord Jesus does not only mean trusting in him; it includes our yielding ourselves up to him to receive his life, and to let that life work out its results in us. We live in him, by him, for him, to him, when we abide in him.”
“The vine needs the branch as truly as the branch needs the vine. No vine ever bore any fruit except upon its branches. Truly it bears all the branches, and so bears all the fruit; but yet it is by the branch that the vine displays its fruitfulness”
“Let him be the object, as well as the source, of your existence”
“When you see the work of the Spirit increasing in you, do not let the devil tempt you to boast that now you are somebody, and need not come to Jesus as a poor sinner, and rest in his precious blood alone for salvation. Abide still in Jesus.”
“The fruit of the branch must come forth of the stem. Your work for Christ must be Christ’s work in you, or else it will be good for nothing.”
” We cannot separate Christ from the Word; for, in the first place, he is the Word; and, in the next place, how dare we call him Master and Lord and do not the things which he says, and reject the truth which he teaches?”
III. Third question
“Do you desire the grace of the Spirit? Go to your Lord’s anointing. Do you seek holiness? Go to his example. Do you desire pardon of sin? Look to his blood. Do you need mortification of sin? Look to his crucifixion. Do you need to be buried to the world? Go to his tomb. Do you want to feel the fulness of a heavenly life? Behold his resurrection. Would you rise above the world? Mark his ascension. Would you contemplate heavenly things? Remember his session at the right hand of God, and know that he “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places.” I see clearly enough why the branch gets all it wants while it abides in the stem, since all it wants is already in the stem, and is placed there for the sake of the branch. What does the branch want more than the stem can give it? If it did want more it could not get it; for it has no other means of living but by sucking its life out of the stem.”
“The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to him, and saying to him, “Do as thou hast said.””
“Study what Jesus has said, what the Holy Ghost has left on record in this divinely-inspired Book, and in proportion as you feed on the Word, and are filled with the Word, and retain the Word in your faith, and obey the Word in your life—in that proportion you will be a master-man in the art of prayer. You have acquired skill as a wrestler with the covenant angel in proportion as you can plead the promises of your faithful God.”
“You clearly see that the holy God cannot pick up a common man in the street, and say to him, “I will give you whatsoever you will.” What would he ask for? He would ask for a good drink, or permission to enjoy himself in evil lust. It would be very unsafe to trust the most of men with permit”
“Behold, the great Father treats us in our measure as he treats his Firstborn. Jesus could say, “I know that thou hearest me always”; and the Lord is educating us to the selfsame assurance. We can say with one of old, “My God will hear me”
“I call your attention to the fact that in that fifteenth chapter, the ninth verse, which I did not read this morning, runs thus:—“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” The same love which God gives to his Son, the Son gives to us; and therefore we are dwellers in the love of the Father and of the Son. How can our prayers be rejected? Will not infinite love have respect unto our petitions?”
“If there were no hell hereafter, it is hell enough not to know Christ now, not to know what it is to prevail with God in prayer, not to know the choice privilege of abiding in him, and his words abiding in you. “
Even with all the quotes in this review it is still worth reading this booklet because there’s so much packed in this work.
October 31, 2025
I stumbled across this on Spotify. I've enjoyed Spurgeon's preaching in the past, this was my first time listening to/reading one of his books though. It was a good reminder of the power of prayer. He did an excellent job of analyzing prayer styles throughout the bible. I think we may not have seen eye to eye on everything, but his words point to Jesus, so we would've gotten along just fine.
Thankful for a God that knows the intents of the heart so that even when we're too broken to speak, He hears.
"Time enough to pray between a question and an answer"
Narration was a bit dry.
Thankful for a God that knows the intents of the heart so that even when we're too broken to speak, He hears.
"Time enough to pray between a question and an answer"
Narration was a bit dry.
April 29, 2022
An encouraging book on prayer from a humble servant. Please, just pray without ceasing. And wait for the Lord🙏
March 2, 2017
Stupendous. I am partial to books on prayer, I believe prayer cannot be overemphasized or over-encouraged. This is a fantastic book on the subject. So clearly worded, so plain, yet so profound, so invigorating! What a blessing Spurgeon is to all who read his work.
September 15, 2010
Our gracious King does not maintain a stately etiquette in His court like that which has been observed by princes among men, where a little mistake or a flaw would secure the petitioner's being dismissed with disgrace. Oh, no. The faulty cries of His children are not severely criticized by Him.
The Lord High Chamberlin of the palace above, our Lord Jesus Christ, takes care to alter and amend every prayer before He presents it, and He makes the prayer perfect with His perfection and prevailing with His own merits. God looks upon the prayer as presented through Christ, and He forgives all of its own inherent faultiness.
How this ought to encourage any of us who feel ourselves to be feeble, wandering,and unskillful in prayer !
Charles H. Spurgeon
The Lord High Chamberlin of the palace above, our Lord Jesus Christ, takes care to alter and amend every prayer before He presents it, and He makes the prayer perfect with His perfection and prevailing with His own merits. God looks upon the prayer as presented through Christ, and He forgives all of its own inherent faultiness.
How this ought to encourage any of us who feel ourselves to be feeble, wandering,and unskillful in prayer !
Charles H. Spurgeon
February 23, 2013
A friend suggested that I read this book and loaned me her copy to do so. Sometimes I’m hesitant to read books on prayer because it seems like it would be a better use of time to just pray instead of reading about praying. However, I was incredibly blessed and challenged by Mr. Spurgeon’s insights on prayer! In fact, some of the points he makes in this short, but powerful book inspired me to approach prayer in a completely different way. I especially appreciated the chapter on “Order and Argument in Prayer,” and the examples he gave of those who brought their cases before God much like a lawyer would present his case before a judge.
June 16, 2013
Charles Spurgeon never fails to encourage and inspire me. A book that only takes a couple of hours to read but that could be contemplated for a lifetime.
January 7, 2017
Probably the most powerful book on prayer I have read to date.
March 14, 2022
lovely read. i adore the works of Charles Spurgeon
May 28, 2023
Book one of “Spurgeon on Prayer and Spiritual Warfare,” an Anthology. 5 stars. Will be revisiting!
February 3, 2020
I struggled with this book more than other Charles Spurgeon books that I've enjoyed, and even quit reading it for a time. I'm glad I came back to it because there were treasures in the end chapters. So, I will begin by turning it around and discussing the end chapters first, as I think they put important limits on the preceding chapters.
One of the reasons that I love to read Spurgeon's works is because it's often an act of worship, of remembering Who God is and pausing to be dazzled by His attributes, and many of those statements I've put in my favorite quotes section at the end of this review. I also like the encouragements to pray.
On discussing the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name ..." Spurgeon wrote, "For our Father is still be be regarded as King. In prayer we come not only to our Father's feet, but also to the throne of the Great Monarch of the universe. The mercy seat is a throne, and we must not forget this."
I like the reminder, especially in a day when more emphasis is spent on God being approachable, and the best Friend we ever had. Which is true, but it is only one side of the coin. God is also God. Spurgeon continued, "Familiarity there may be, but let it not be unhallowed. Boldness there should be, but let it not be impertinent." "We do not pray to God to instruct Him as to what He ought to do."
That would've been important to note first rather than later, because it got lost in the earlier chapter "Order and Argument in Prayer." In it, Spurgeon talked about the various arguments people of the Bible used in their prayers. "Arguing" with God sounded too strong to me. What's the purpose of arguing with Someone both all-knowing and all-powerful? That made it sound as if God were antagonistic towards our prayers. I would've called these "reasons" rather than "arguments." Reasons for us to ask or reasons for us to hope or even reasons for us to plead. But we would not be able to out-argue, out-reason, or out-logic God.
Spurgeon even went so far as to say that praying aright can make us "a conqueror with the eternal God." I would say, "No, God conquers us." We can break ourselves attacking Him, but He conquers us in love, and in love, sometimes allows us to have the consequences of our actions. But perhaps I am just still thinking of arguments and opposing sides, ours and God's, and that imagery just does not work with me. I would much rather be on God's side than opposing Him in any matter.
Perhaps Spurgeon meant to say that we are not conquerors OF God, but conquerors WITH God. Spurgeon did use the word "with" there, and maybe the sides changing so abruptly just flummoxed me. I thought he meant "with" as "in regards to," "conquerors in regards to God," but if we are conquerors at all, it's precisely because we join God's side, not because we overcome Him in any way. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:38, NIV. Maybe Spurgeon was just partially referencing that verse and I didn't catch it. I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Spurgeon pointed out that in Nehemiah 2:4, "Nehemiah, however, felt that if he were alarmed, it was a reason for praying, not for forgetting to pray." I have been so rattled in various crises before that I didn't seem to be able to pray at once, but later, as I calmed down. I like the reminder to pray anyway.
I liked his list of Biblical prayers to pray towards the end of one's life. Who knows? I may stop back by this list sometime:
"O Lord ... hide not Thy face from me." Psalm 143:7
"O God, Be not far from me." Psalm 22:11
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 7:59
Other favorite quotes, and so many of these are so beautiful:
"He delighteth in mercy." - Micah 7:18. Spurgeon wrote, "Ah, sinner, when you cry to God, you give Him an opportunity to do what He loves most to do; for He delights to forgive..."
"Faith asks because it believes God will give. Hope, having asked, expects and therefore seeks for the blessing. Love comes nearer still; it will not take a denial from God but desires to enter into His house and to dine with Him. Therefore Love knocks at His door until He opens."
In discussing Psalm 147:9, "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry," Spurgeon wrote, "Consider the ravens as they cry. With harsh, inarticulate, croaking notes they make known their wants, and your heavenly Father answers their prayer and sends them food. You, too, have begun to pray and to seek His favor. Ar you not much better than they? Does God care for ravens, and will He not care for you?"
"When the young ravens cry, they cry alone, but when you pray, you have a mightier One than you praying with you."
"'He who has made God his refuge' might serve as the title of a true believer."
"When you plead the name of Christ, you plead that which shakes the gates of hell and that which the hosts of heaven obey, and God Himself feels the sacred power of that divine plea."
"Labor to see sin as God sees it, as an offense against all that is good, a rebellion against all that is kind. See it to be treason, to be ingratitude, to be a low and base thing. Never expect that the King of heaven will pardon a traitor if he will not confess and forsake his treason."
"Alas, a great many people play at praying; it is nothing better. I say they play at praying; they do not expect God to give them an answer, and thus they are mere triflers who mock the Lord."
"Why is your countenance sad, oh, suppliant, when you stand before the throne of grace? ... If our sorrows are heavy, tell them to Him, for He can comfort you. If your sins are multiplied, confess them, for He can forgive them."
"But when we pray, we are standing in the palace on the glittering floor of the Great King's own reception room, and thus we are placed upon an advantage ground... And should we come there with stunted requests and narrow and contracted faith? No, it does not become a King to be giving away pennies and nickles; He distributes pieces of gold... Ask for great things, for you are before a great throne."
"If I am called upon to pray in public, I must not dare use words that are intended to please the ears of my fellow worshipers, but I must realize that I am speaking to God Himself and that I have business to transact with the great Lord."
In paraphrasing Romans 9:15, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion," Charles Spurgeon wrote, "I will have mercy on this sinner, though he does not deserve it, though in him there is no merit; yet because I can do as I will with My own, I will bless him, I will make him My child, and I will accept him. He will be Mine in the day when I make up My jewels."
"Are you in the midst of company? You will be reminded to pray, 'Lord, "keep the door of my lips"' (Ps 141:3)."
"I can recommend it [praying brief, exclamatory prayers] as a valuable prescription for the hasty and the irritable, for all who are quick to take offense and slow to forgive insult or injury."
"The habit of offering these brief prayers would also check your confidence in yourself. It would show your dependence on God.... It would be like sweet perfume burnt in the chamber of your soul to keep away the fever of the world from your heart."
"Have you noticed some sin that grieves you? Let it move you to prayer."
"Do you feel your own heart going off track? Does sin begin to fascinate you? Now utter a prayer - a warm, earnest, passionate cry - 'Lord, "hold Thou me up"' (Ps. 119:117)"
"Are you eager to do some good? Be sure to have a prayer over it."
"It is always good to have praying going on while you are talking about Christ."
"More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice
Rise like a fountain, flowing night and day:
For what are men better than sheep or goats,
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer,
Both for themselves and those who call them friend." - Lord Alfred Tennyson
"You will have to pray until you exchange prayer for praise and until you go from the mercy seat below to the throne of God above."
One of the reasons that I love to read Spurgeon's works is because it's often an act of worship, of remembering Who God is and pausing to be dazzled by His attributes, and many of those statements I've put in my favorite quotes section at the end of this review. I also like the encouragements to pray.
On discussing the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name ..." Spurgeon wrote, "For our Father is still be be regarded as King. In prayer we come not only to our Father's feet, but also to the throne of the Great Monarch of the universe. The mercy seat is a throne, and we must not forget this."
I like the reminder, especially in a day when more emphasis is spent on God being approachable, and the best Friend we ever had. Which is true, but it is only one side of the coin. God is also God. Spurgeon continued, "Familiarity there may be, but let it not be unhallowed. Boldness there should be, but let it not be impertinent." "We do not pray to God to instruct Him as to what He ought to do."
That would've been important to note first rather than later, because it got lost in the earlier chapter "Order and Argument in Prayer." In it, Spurgeon talked about the various arguments people of the Bible used in their prayers. "Arguing" with God sounded too strong to me. What's the purpose of arguing with Someone both all-knowing and all-powerful? That made it sound as if God were antagonistic towards our prayers. I would've called these "reasons" rather than "arguments." Reasons for us to ask or reasons for us to hope or even reasons for us to plead. But we would not be able to out-argue, out-reason, or out-logic God.
Spurgeon even went so far as to say that praying aright can make us "a conqueror with the eternal God." I would say, "No, God conquers us." We can break ourselves attacking Him, but He conquers us in love, and in love, sometimes allows us to have the consequences of our actions. But perhaps I am just still thinking of arguments and opposing sides, ours and God's, and that imagery just does not work with me. I would much rather be on God's side than opposing Him in any matter.
Perhaps Spurgeon meant to say that we are not conquerors OF God, but conquerors WITH God. Spurgeon did use the word "with" there, and maybe the sides changing so abruptly just flummoxed me. I thought he meant "with" as "in regards to," "conquerors in regards to God," but if we are conquerors at all, it's precisely because we join God's side, not because we overcome Him in any way. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:38, NIV. Maybe Spurgeon was just partially referencing that verse and I didn't catch it. I can give him the benefit of the doubt.
Spurgeon pointed out that in Nehemiah 2:4, "Nehemiah, however, felt that if he were alarmed, it was a reason for praying, not for forgetting to pray." I have been so rattled in various crises before that I didn't seem to be able to pray at once, but later, as I calmed down. I like the reminder to pray anyway.
I liked his list of Biblical prayers to pray towards the end of one's life. Who knows? I may stop back by this list sometime:
"O Lord ... hide not Thy face from me." Psalm 143:7
"O God, Be not far from me." Psalm 22:11
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 7:59
Other favorite quotes, and so many of these are so beautiful:
"He delighteth in mercy." - Micah 7:18. Spurgeon wrote, "Ah, sinner, when you cry to God, you give Him an opportunity to do what He loves most to do; for He delights to forgive..."
"Faith asks because it believes God will give. Hope, having asked, expects and therefore seeks for the blessing. Love comes nearer still; it will not take a denial from God but desires to enter into His house and to dine with Him. Therefore Love knocks at His door until He opens."
In discussing Psalm 147:9, "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry," Spurgeon wrote, "Consider the ravens as they cry. With harsh, inarticulate, croaking notes they make known their wants, and your heavenly Father answers their prayer and sends them food. You, too, have begun to pray and to seek His favor. Ar you not much better than they? Does God care for ravens, and will He not care for you?"
"When the young ravens cry, they cry alone, but when you pray, you have a mightier One than you praying with you."
"'He who has made God his refuge' might serve as the title of a true believer."
"When you plead the name of Christ, you plead that which shakes the gates of hell and that which the hosts of heaven obey, and God Himself feels the sacred power of that divine plea."
"Labor to see sin as God sees it, as an offense against all that is good, a rebellion against all that is kind. See it to be treason, to be ingratitude, to be a low and base thing. Never expect that the King of heaven will pardon a traitor if he will not confess and forsake his treason."
"Alas, a great many people play at praying; it is nothing better. I say they play at praying; they do not expect God to give them an answer, and thus they are mere triflers who mock the Lord."
"Why is your countenance sad, oh, suppliant, when you stand before the throne of grace? ... If our sorrows are heavy, tell them to Him, for He can comfort you. If your sins are multiplied, confess them, for He can forgive them."
"But when we pray, we are standing in the palace on the glittering floor of the Great King's own reception room, and thus we are placed upon an advantage ground... And should we come there with stunted requests and narrow and contracted faith? No, it does not become a King to be giving away pennies and nickles; He distributes pieces of gold... Ask for great things, for you are before a great throne."
"If I am called upon to pray in public, I must not dare use words that are intended to please the ears of my fellow worshipers, but I must realize that I am speaking to God Himself and that I have business to transact with the great Lord."
In paraphrasing Romans 9:15, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion," Charles Spurgeon wrote, "I will have mercy on this sinner, though he does not deserve it, though in him there is no merit; yet because I can do as I will with My own, I will bless him, I will make him My child, and I will accept him. He will be Mine in the day when I make up My jewels."
"Are you in the midst of company? You will be reminded to pray, 'Lord, "keep the door of my lips"' (Ps 141:3)."
"I can recommend it [praying brief, exclamatory prayers] as a valuable prescription for the hasty and the irritable, for all who are quick to take offense and slow to forgive insult or injury."
"The habit of offering these brief prayers would also check your confidence in yourself. It would show your dependence on God.... It would be like sweet perfume burnt in the chamber of your soul to keep away the fever of the world from your heart."
"Have you noticed some sin that grieves you? Let it move you to prayer."
"Do you feel your own heart going off track? Does sin begin to fascinate you? Now utter a prayer - a warm, earnest, passionate cry - 'Lord, "hold Thou me up"' (Ps. 119:117)"
"Are you eager to do some good? Be sure to have a prayer over it."
"It is always good to have praying going on while you are talking about Christ."
"More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice
Rise like a fountain, flowing night and day:
For what are men better than sheep or goats,
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer,
Both for themselves and those who call them friend." - Lord Alfred Tennyson
"You will have to pray until you exchange prayer for praise and until you go from the mercy seat below to the throne of God above."
August 13, 2019
This would be 5 stars had the publishers not done us the “favor” of updating the text to modern language. Spurgeon is easily understandable without it. There is still good stuff in here but they take away Spurgeon’s voice so to speak. If you can find this without the updated language go that route, if not this will work. Spurgeon is on the one hand very encouraging but he doesn’t let people off easy either. He is my favorite of the “old dead guys” due to his pastoral warmth. Even people who hate Calvinists love Spurgeon. There’s just something about him. He seems to blur denominational lines.
January 2, 2023
If you are looking for a burst of encouragement and exhortation in your prayer life, then this book is a great resource. Not only does Spurgeon offer biblical instruction on prayer, but he also roots prayer in the gospel and the grace of God in Christ. So it is not hollow, practical advice, simply calling us to the duty of prayer. Before he calls us to prayer, he calls us to Christ. Every chapter focuses on a specific biblical text related to prayer, but (in his puritanical style) he draws out meaning from the verses that he writes from. So it’s classic Spurgeon in that sense, much like his preaching.
August 15, 2025
In this book, Spurgeon uses 6 passages from the Bible to reflect on prayer. Thus, Spurgeon does not provide a formula on how to pray (in fact he makes it efffident he dislikes formula prayers)but rather show principles of Biblical prayer and how they are applicable today. The book has helped me. Some key take aways from the book are the importance of simple prayers, the power of short prayers, the power of prayer being in God not us, and praying mutiple times a day as a divine appointment. I would highly recommend the book for anyone looking to improve their prayer life.
August 8, 2020
Excellent book on the power of prayer. It has great reminders for new believers as well as seasoned Christians. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks they can't pray or feel like their prayers are not being answered.
April 10, 2024
Awesome Simplicity and Clarity
A delightful read for a heart hungering for pathway of successful prayer. Far less painful than my quadruple heart bypass. Far deeper healing of my soul.
A delightful read for a heart hungering for pathway of successful prayer. Far less painful than my quadruple heart bypass. Far deeper healing of my soul.
May 17, 2024
I recommend this to everyone! Beginner or been with God for multiple years. This book was short and packed full of good instruction and thoughts on prayer!! I took my time with it because they were so much! I already see a change in my prayers!
September 25, 2025
This is a wonderful sermon on John 15:7 and links the power of prayer to abiding in Christ and His Word (effectively the same thing). It is a great reminder that prayer is not a separate act within our relationship with Christ, but is both impacted by and a driver of our unity with Christ Himself.
May 9, 2018
Insightful and encouraging.
August 20, 2019
A wonderful book to read for giving thoughts on prayer. It gave me some insight and thought I never realized. If you want to know more about prayer and understanding it must read.
September 28, 2019
Simply excellent! Easy read, yet so profound and thorough.
December 23, 2021
Helpful, practical, biblical, inspiring! A must-read!
June 7, 2022
Great read on prayer, how to pray, why to pray… Spurgeon writes so well on this subject. I would recommend this and “12 Sermons on Prayer” for anyone looking for guidance in prayer.
February 5, 2024
A short book -- actually a sermon transcript on John 15:7. Many encouraging points and lots of thoughtful insight. Check for a free edition on Amazon.
April 1, 2024
This book is worth reading slow and meditating on.
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