The Potential of Prayer (7)

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…Acts 1.14

A parable of devotion in prayer
Kevin of Glendalough (fl. 6^th century) was a man diligent in prayer. He was renowned for his intense and protracted seasons of laboring before the throne of grace, giving the Lord no rest (Is. 62.6, 7) as he lavished the Savior with praise and thanksgiving and importuned Him on behalf of the flock under his care. 

His contemporaries greatly admired his diligence in prayer, and were at pains to describe the ardor, fervor, and duration of his many prayers. So, in typical Celtic style, they related Kevin’s life of being diligent in prayer by a story, written down three centuries after his death – not intending that it should be taken literally, but that all should understand it as a parable of his devotion, and an exhortation to follow his example.

On one occasion, the story goes, Kevin retired to his cell to pray, extending his hands crosfigell – outward in the shape of a cross, the Celtic practice of the “cross vigil.” The palms of his hands, turned upward to receive mercy and grace, extended out the windows of his cell. So long did he pray, the story goes, and with such still persistence and focus, that a blackbird came and made its nest in his upturned palm. Kevin persevered in prayer through all the period of nest-building, egg-laying, young-raising, and fledging, until at last, he returned from his vigil to the other duties required of him as head of a prominent monastery.

The point, of course, is that Kevin learned the example of Jesus and the apostles well, and followed carefully in their steps: he was a man diligent in prayer. He prayed always and in everything, seeking mercy and grace to help in his times of need.

What does this mean, and what would it look like for us to be so diligent in prayer?

A primary duty of ministry
The apostles were devoted to prayer, not just here, as they retired to the upper room for that 10-day season of waiting on the Lord to send His Spirit, but as one of the two principal duties of their pastoral ministry (Acts 6.4). As we have seen, we find the apostles leading the people of God in prayer, using the psalms – the scripts for prayer – that God Himself had provided (Acts 4.23-27). We see them keeping the daily hours of prayer, stopping all other activities in order to meet with the Lord at regular times each day (Acts 3.1; 10.9). In prayer we find the apostles waiting on the Lord – not just speaking to Him, but meditating and receiving from Him fresh insights and visions, and clear guidance concerning what they must do each day (Acts 1.15ff, 10.9ff; 18.9). We hear them exhorting us to pray about everything (Phil. 4.7), pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5.17), and to let prayer be the defining characteristic of our existence in these last days (1 Pt. 4.7; 2 Pt. 3.11, 12). We read in their epistles that they themselves were much given to prayer, and in the most eloquent and powerful of terms. We find them praying in the face of grave danger (Acts 16.25), and before making significant decisions concerning the direction of their ministries (Acts 13.1-3). We learn that they actually met the Lord in prayer, as He revealed Himself to them and spoke with them concerning His purpose and plan (Acts 18.9; 13.1-5). So important to the apostles was the work of prayer that not even emergencies threatening the peace of the church, nor new ministries urgently needed, could distract them from this duty (Acts 6.4). 

To be diligent in prayer means to have this kind of prayer life. It is the life of prayer commended to all true servants of Christ.

Devoted to prayer?
Would you describe yourself as diligent in prayer? Would you like this to be the manner of your praying? How can we want anything less than what we see our Fathers in the faith exemplifying, particularly those of us who have responsibility for the care of the Lord’s flocks?

The place to begin in becoming diligent in prayer is to desire such a life of prayer as your highest priority. You will not begin to set aside the time such devotion requires, or to take up the disciplines of praying and singing the psalms, meditating and envisioning the exalted Christ, or waiting on Him in prayer until you first of all desire such a life of prayer.

A wise Christian friend once reminded me that we will do in our lives only and exactly what we want to do, and nothing else. And when we want to pray, when we want to be diligent in prayer, then praying always and in everything for the mercy and grace of our heavenly Father will simply be the kind of people we are. We have the potential of becoming diligent in prayer, and thus to find in prayer the potential for full and fruitful Kingdom living in Jesus Christ. But we will not realize this potential until we desire prayer like Jesus, the apostles, and Kevin of Glendalough.

Begin today to seek the Lord on this matter. Plead with Him so to work in your heart and mind that you might long, like the psalmist, for time to be in His presence in prayer (Ps. 42.1, 2). Ask Him to expose and remove everything that you desire more than prayer, everything that keeps you from prayer, and every doubt that lingers in your soul, suggesting that prayer is not as important as we have been insisting in this series. Make it your daily discipline, and throughout the day, to plead with God to teach you how to be diligent in prayer, and to lead you more consistently and joyously into it.

You will never understand the utter joy of prayer, nor enter fully into its beauty and power, until you become one who, like Kevin and the apostles, is truly diligent in prayer.

For reflection
1.  “Would you describe yourself as diligent in prayer? Would you like this to be the manner of your praying?” What do you say?

2.  What practical steps can you begin taking at once in order to become more diligent in prayer?

3.  Do you have a prayer partner, or a soul friend? Would having such a person in your life help you to become more diligent in prayer? Explain.

Next steps: Do you have a Christian friend who will help you in this effort to become more devoted in prayer? Share this article with your friend. Then meet to discuss ways you might encourage one another to greater consistency and power in prayer.

T. M. Moore

Each of our “next steps” exercises is tied into goals and disciplines involved in working your Personal Mission Field. If you have not yet identified your Personal Mission Field, watch the brief video showing you how to get started right away (click here). Learn how to work your Personal Mission Field by finding a friend and signing-up for our Mission Partners Outreach.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.