Conquering Prayerlessness by Andrew Murray

"This article was taken from the Redeemer Presbyterian Church website.) www.redeemer.com

The greatest stumbling block in the way of victory over prayerlessness is the secret feeling that we shall
never obtain the blessing of being delivered from it. Often have we put forth effort in this direction, but in
vain. Old habit, and the power of the flesh, our surroundings with their attractions, have been too strong for
us. What good is it to attempt that which our heart assures us is out of our reach?
The change needed in the entire life is too great and difficult. If the question is put: “Is a change possible?
Our sighing heart says: “Alas, for me it is entirely impossible!” Do you know why that reply comes? It is
simply because you have received the call to prayer as the voice of Moses and as a command of the law.
Moses and his law have never yet given any one the power to obey.
Do you really long for the courage to believe that deliverance from a prayerless life is possible for you, and
may become a reality? Then you must learn the great lesson that such a deliverance is included in the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus, that it is one of the blessings of the New Covenant which God Himself
will impart to you through Christ Jesus.
As you begin to understand this, you will find that the exhortation, “Pray without ceasing,” conveys a new
meaning. Hope begins to spring up in your heart, that the Spirit – who has been bestowed on you, to cry
constantly, “Abba, Father” – will make a true life of prayer possible for you. Then you will hearken, not in
the spirit of discouragement, but in the gladness of hope, to the voice that calls you to repentance.
Many a one has turned to his Inner Chamber, under bitter self-accusation that he has prayed so little, and
has resolved for the future to live in a different manner. Yet no blessing has come – there was not the
strength to continue faithful, and the call to repentance had no power, because his eyes had not been fixed
on the Lord Jesus. If he had only understood, he would have said, “Lord, Thou seest how cold and dark my
heart is. I know that I must pray, but I feel I cannot do so, I lack the urgency and desire to pray.”
He did not know that at that moment the Lord Jesus in His tender love was looking down upon Him and
saying “You cannot pray; you feel that all is cold and dark; why not give yourself over into My hands?
Only believe that I am ready to help you in prayer; I long greatly to shed abroad My love in your heart, so
that you, in the consciousness of weakness, may confidently rely on Me to bestow the grace of prayer: Just
as I will cleanse you from all other sins, so also will I deliver from the sin of prayerlessness – only do not
seek the victory in your own strength. Bow before Me as one who expects everything from his Saviour.
Let your soul keep silence before Me, however sad you feel your state to be. Be assured of this – I will
teach you how to pray.”
Many a one will acknowledge: “I see my mistake; I had not thought that the Lord Jesus must deliver and
cleanse me from this sin also. I had not understood that He was with me every day in the Inner Chamber,
in His great love ready to keep and bless me, however sinful and guilty I felt myself to be. I had not
supposed that just as He will give all other grace in answer to prayer, so, above all and before all, He will
bestow the grace of a praying heart.
What folly to think that all other blessings must come from Him, but that prayer whereon everything else
depends, must be obtained by personal effort! Thank God I begin to comprehend – the Lord Jesus is
Himself in the Inner Chamber watching over me, and holding Himself responsible to teach me how to
approach the Father. This only He demands – that I, with child-like confidence, wait upon Him and glorify
Him.”
If fear and hesitation still remain, I pray you by the mercies of God in Jesus Christ, and by the unspeakable
faithfulness of His tender love, dare to cast yourselves at His feet. Only believe with your whole heart –
there is deliverance from the sin of prayerlessness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). In His blood and grace there
is complete deliverance from all unrighteousness, and from all prayerlessness. Praised be His Name
forever! Rev. Andrew Murray, in The Prayer-Life (1920