February 4, 2022

One of my favorite Tom Hank’s movies is That Thing You Do. It’s the story of four young men who write a song, around 1964, then make a recording of it to play on the local radio station in Erie, PA. The story then follows the boys as they experience sudden popularity while their record climbs to the top of the record charts. As they prepare to go on a variety show on national television to sing the song, one of the young men turns to the leader and asks, “How did we get here?”

I sometimes think about my growth in Christ since I became a believer in 1976 and ask myself, “How did I get here?” The answer is always: By grace. Although God has used many things and people to help conform me to be more like Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who has caused the growth. Growth for a believer is what God expects. Growth means change, improvement, progress in our walk with the Lord and in our spiritual disciplines.

We all experience growth in different ways, at different times, and by different means. I would like to talk about my growth in one area, the area of prayer. I have come a long way from “Now I lay me down to sleep…” but I am not at the place where I “pray without ceasing”. Maybe you are like me and want some new ideas to help enrich the area of prayer in your life. Over the next few Prayer Letters I want to share with you some of the things that I have done or read that have caused growth for me in hopes that they might encourage you.

The biggest help I received was from reading the works of Andrew Murray. He was a pastor and an author in South Africa from 1848 until his death in 1917. He wrote many books that give daily practical help to people, but his books on prayer were the most meaningful to me.

One of my favorite quotes from Andrew Murray is: “The evangelization of the world depends first upon the revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for people—deep down at the bottom of our spiritless life—is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, worldwide prayer.” That quote has stuck with me and encouraged me to persevere and keep developing a more consistent and powerful prayer life.

My first suggestion to enrich and strengthen your prayer life is to read some good books on prayer—especially the works of Andrew Murray.  There are several good resources on prayer on the Fellowship of Ailbe website. I recommend you order the book “If Men Will Pray” from our bookstore. It’s free!

Next time I will relate another idea to encourage the fulfillment of a revival of prayer.

David Timbie