E.M. Bounds on Prayer

1. Prayer Engages the Whole Person and All of Life.

Prayer has to do with the entire man.

Holistic engagement. True prayer is not a superficial act but involves the entirety of a person—mind, soul, and body. When the whole self is given to God in prayer, the largest spiritual benefits are received, affecting every aspect of one's being. This complete surrender is a secret to full consecration and fruitful praying.

Wholeness in devotion. God desires holy, whole-hearted individuals for His service, men and women whose allegiance is undivided. Just as man is a trinity of spirit, soul, and body, all these elements must unite in piety and prayer. The body often assumes a praying posture, but it is the mind and soul that truly engage, preparing thoughts and eliminating distractions to approach God with sincerity.

Far-reaching benefits. When the entire person prays, every part of their nature receives blessings. This includes physical well-being, clear mental action, and profound spiritual benefits. The invigorating unction of the Holy Spirit, for instance, can sharpen the mind and loosen thought, enabling even those with limited education to speak and pray with divine liberty and power.

2. Humility and Devotion are Essential Foundations for True Prayer.

Humility is an indispensable requisite of true prayer.

Lowliness of heart. Humility, characterized by a low estimate of oneself and an absence of pride, is crucial for effective prayer. It is a rare grace that grants access to God when other qualities fail, ensuring prayers are set low before they can rise high. The parable of the Pharisee and the publican vividly illustrates how self-exaltation shuts the door to God, while self-depreciation opens it.

Spirit of reverence. Devotion signifies a mind entirely dedicated to God, embodying reverence, awe, and godly fear. It thrives in quietness, fostering a serious, thoughtful, and meditative state of heart. Without this spirit, prayer becomes an empty form, a mere routine of words, lacking the engagement of the heart that God truly desires.

Nourishing graces. Both humility and devotion are vital for nurturing spiritual graces. Prayer promotes devotion, and devotion, in turn, makes prayer effectual by engaging the heart. A lack of genuine devotion leads to a superficial religion, where outward activities replace heartfelt worship and communion with God, leaving the soul cold and unimpressed.

3. Prayer is God's Primary Method for Advancing His Work.

Men are God’s method.

Divine strategy. God's plan for advancing His cause in the world centers not on elaborate machinery, new organizations, or novel methods, but on men and women of prayer. The church often seeks better methods, but God seeks better people—individuals through whom the Holy Spirit can flow, anointing not plans, but praying hearts.

Holiness as purpose. God's ultimate work is to transform fallen humanity into holy beings, implanting, growing, and perfecting holiness in His people. This is the very aim of Christ's coming and the earnest desire of every regenerated soul. Prayer is the divinely appointed means for achieving this high and gracious end, making ample provisions for cleansing from sin and sanctification by the Holy Spirit.

Progress through prayer. The true measure of God's work advancing in the church is the progress of holiness among its members, which is directly tied to their prayerfulness. When church leaders and laymen prioritize prayer and hunger for holiness, God's hand is not stayed, and mighty outpourings of the Holy Spirit occur, leading to genuine revivals and spiritual transformation.

4. A Preacher's Power and Unction Flow Directly from Prayer.

The real sermon is made in the closet.

Preacher's essence. The man makes the preacher, and God makes the man. Preaching is not merely an hour's performance but the outflow of a life, deeply tinctured by the preacher's character. A sermon's force, holiness, and divine unction are directly proportional to the preacher's own spiritual depth, which is forged in secret communion with God.

Life-giving unction. Unction is the divine anointing of the Holy Ghost, separating and qualifying a preacher for God's work. It is an indescribable, inimitable quality that makes God's truth powerful, living, and life-giving, convicting consciences and breaking hearts. Without this unction, preaching, no matter how eloquent or intellectual, remains light, dead, and ultimately ineffective in securing true spiritual results.

Price of unction. This divine unction is not a gift of genius or learning, nor can it be manufactured; it is a conditional gift, secured and maintained through unceasing, impassioned prayer. Much prayer is the price of preaching unction, and perseverance in prayer is the sole condition for keeping it. Prayerless preaching, conversely, creates death, not life, and is a "dead and rotten thing."

5. Much Time and Persistent Effort are Required for Effective Prayer.

Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying.

Time is essential. While short prayers have their place, especially when preceded by longer ones, true prevailing prayer requires significant time spent alone with God. God does not bestow His richest gifts on casual or hasty visitors; He yields to the persistence of a faith that truly knows Him, as exemplified by Christ's many all-night prayers and the protracted devotions of saints like Daniel and Paul.

Beyond habit. Prayer is not a petty duty or a hurried pastime; it demands the best of our time, heart, and strength. It is a serious work that must give tone to one's entire life, engaging every high element of being. To treat prayer as a mere habit or routine is to render it a "dead and rotten thing," devoid of the vital oneness with Christ and the fullness of the Holy Ghost that true prayer requires.

Costly outlay. True praying is taxing spiritual work that human nature often resists, as it abases intellect and pride. It costs an outlay of serious attention and time, which flesh and blood do not relish. Short devotions deplete spiritual vigor, arrest progress, and blight spiritual life, leading to weak faith and superficial piety. To be little with God is to be little for God.

6. Prayer Changes God's Purposes and Unlocks Divine Resources.

The prayer of faith is the only power in the universe to which the Great Jehovah yields.

Divine responsiveness. Prayer possesses the remarkable ability to influence and even change the purposes of God, demonstrating its profound power and necessity. Biblical accounts repeatedly show God responding to fervent prayer by altering His declared intentions, such as healing Abimelech, turning Job's captivity, sparing Nineveh, and extending Hezekiah's life.

Limitless storehouse. Through prayer, man gains access to God's infinite resources, making his impoverishment his wealth. God invites us to "Ask of me," conveying an assurance of answer and empowering all agencies and movements of the Gospel. This "carte blanche" to prayer means that all things are possible to those who know how to pray, as God's hand withholds nothing from persistent faith.

Conditions for power. The effectiveness of prayer is tied to specific conditions: abiding in Christ, living in obedience to His will, and approaching God in His name. When these conditions are met, prayer becomes a positive, commanding force that aligns with God's purposes, yet also pleads and gives directions, demonstrating its dynamic role in the divine-human interaction.

7. Compassion and Intercession for Others are Born of Prayer.

Prayer for others is born of a sympathetic heart.

Spiritual empathy. True spiritual compassion, born in a renewed heart, moves the soul with tenderness for others' sin, sorrow, and suffering. This Christly compassion is not blind; it first sees the multitudes in their helpless condition, then moves to earnest prayer for them. It goes beyond mere physical relief, reaching into the soul's distressing state and eternal peril.

Intercessory burden. When compassion beholds the sight of dying men hurrying to God's bar, it breaks out into intercessions for sinful humanity. Paul exemplified this, expressing "great heaviness and continual sorrow" for his Jewish brethren, which fueled his fervent prayers for their salvation. This kind of prayer is a divine quality that makes us like God, who is "gracious and full of compassion."

Laborers for the harvest. Christ's compassion for the multitudes, "as sheep having no shepherd," led Him to instruct His disciples to "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." The ingathering of souls is dependent on the prayers of God's people, securing God-chosen, God-sent laborers who are filled with Christly compassion and power.

8. Prayer is the Mark of True Spiritual Leadership and a Praying Church.

None but praying leaders can have praying followers.

Apostolic example. The apostles understood that their high commission demanded continuous prayer, prioritizing it even over sacred duties like alms-giving. They "gave themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word," demonstrating that apostolic praying was as taxing and imperative as apostolic preaching. This fervent intercession brought their people to the highest regions of faith and holiness.

Leadership's responsibility. Preachers are God's preeminent leaders, primarily responsible for the church's spiritual condition. Strong spiritual leaders are men of mighty prayer, whose power with God molds things and brings spiritual prosperity. A pulpit untouched by closet flame will be dry and unctionless, unable to impart divine power.

Church's vitality. A prayerless ministry is detrimental to God's truth and His church, leading to spiritual barrenness and a decline in piety. Conversely, a praying pulpit begets praying pews, fostering a generation of saints who possess ardor, beauty, and power. The greatest reformers and apostles are those who can set the church to praying, restoring its vital connection to God.

9. Prayer Has No Substitutes and Overcomes All Hindrances.

There can be no substitute, no rival for prayer; it stands alone as the great spiritual force, and this force must be imminent and acting.

Unrivaled force. Prayer is the greatest spiritual force, honoring God and bringing Him into active aid. There is no substitute or rival for it; it must be continuous, particular, and ever-present. The church cannot operate on the prayers of past generations; it requires constant, fervent engagement from its current members.

Hindrances to overcome. Many things hinder prayer, primarily busyness and other duties that crowd it out. Satan's wiliest trick is to destroy the best (prayer) by the good (other activities). Spiritual sloth, feebleness, and a lack of discipline also make prayer hard work. The simplicity of prayer, requiring a childlike spirit, can also be an obstacle for the intellectual.

Holy living's foundation. A holy life is the only true preparation for prayer; conversely, prayer rectifies conduct. We cannot talk to God strongly if we have not lived for God strongly. Prayerless praying—a heartless, insincere, or merely habitual performance—is a delusion that yields no results and dishonors God. True prayer, buttressed by holy living, is a mighty force that helps both God and man.

10. The Universality of Prayer: For All Men, Everywhere, in All Things.

I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

All-encompassing reach. Prayer's influence is far-reaching and worldwide, affecting all men, everywhere, and in all aspects of life, from temporal interests to eternal destinies. All men are called to pray due to their universal need for God's saving grace, and God is accessible in every clime and circumstance.

Broad scope of intercession. Prayer must embrace all of Adam's fallen race, as commanded by Paul, because Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all. This includes rulers and those in authority, as prayer can restrain the lawless and make good leaders better. Such broad-minded, unselfish praying pleases God and cooperates with His will for all men to be saved.

Every need, every time. Prayer has a universal application in that all things concerning us—physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and eternal—are subjects of prayer. It blesses man in every event, provides help in every emergency, and offers comfort in every trouble. The "Lord's Prayer" serves as a universal model, adaptable to all people, nations, and times of need.