If, in this assembly meeting, each heart was set upon the living God, how the power of Christ’s presence would be realized! In prayer, the most important thing is to get to the ear of Him to whom we speak. Waiting on the Lord, in humble and silent acknowledgment of His holy presence and nearness, is the first and best beginning for a prayer meeting.
If, from the very beginning, we are face to face with God and His presence is the controlling power, there will be prayer “in the Spirit.” Then, too, even before prayer is begun, there will be blessing.
Prayers need not be overly long. All the prayers recorded in Scripture are short. One of the shortest is the publican’s in Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13), while Solomon’s, at the dedication of the temple, is the longest. Yet it can be repeated slowly and deliberately in less than seven minutes. Long, drawn-out prayers can weaken or deaden a prayer meeting. Praying “all night” is wonderful (see Luke 6:1212And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)), but perhaps we should do so in our bedrooms. Prayers edify most when brief. Perhaps it would be better to pray twice than “wear out the saints” with lengthy discourses intended for edification or exhortation.
Such a revival in our prayer meetings and in the spirit of our prayers surely would result in greater blessing. Let us pay careful attention to the words of Psalm 62:55My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (Psalm 62:5), “My soul, wait thou only upon God,” putting this principle to practice by taking time to be still before God when praying.
Finally, in order that the assembly gathered together in prayer might be able to say “Amen,” let each brother who prays do so in a position and a voice which all in attendance may readily hear.
N. Berry