Patrick understood the importance of prayer. Even as a young boy, a slave in Ireland, he knew enough to turn continuously to the Lord. In his Confession he wrote,
“My days were filled with toil, my nights with fears.
And so I turned to prayer to find relief
in God, although I had not made belief
my firm conviction as of yet. I prayed
throughout the day, and many times I stayed
awake, beseeching God to pity me.”
Today’s excerpt from Patrick: A Devotional History is found on pages 31 and 32:
“We must never underestimate the power of prayer to accomplish the work of God.
“Patrick was not a serious Christian before his captivity and enslavement in Ireland. But in that situation, he became so desperate—he mentions his despair, sorrow, and loneliness—that something in him told him to hope in God and to begin praying. He sought relief in prayer from the fears and uncertainty of his life. He had not yet come to full faith in the Lord, but enough of faith had been deposited in him that he did the only thing he knew: he prayed.
“Prayer was the beginning of his deliverance…
“Patrick found prayer to be so satisfying, comforting, and hope-engendering that he said he
“‘would pray a hundred times each day, and by
the light of moon and stars, as often, too.’
“No wonder Paul calls us to pray without ceasing. The more we pray, the more we will connect with God and realize the fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore that can be known in His Presence.”
For reflection of discussion
1. How satisfying is your prayer life? What makes it so?
2. What would we look like if we really were praying without ceasing?
Patrick found safety in prayer, but also peace and a more consistent sense of the Presence of God. We can probably all improve our prayer lives. Where would you begin to do so? Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to share your prayer life with one another. You can order a free PDF copy of Patrick: A Devotional History by going to The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
