"The little estimate we put on prayer
is evidence from the little time we give it."
E.M. Bounds' words come from his classic work, Power Through Prayer. Bounds also writes, "Praying is spiritual work; and human nature does not like taxing, spiritual work."[1]
I find that praying is taxing, spiritual work. It does not always -- or even usually -- come easily for me. Perhaps that is why Jesus' admonition resonates:
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:1-8 ESV
"Always pray! Don't lose heart." I need those words today. How about you? Where do you need to pray and not lose heart?
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[1] E.M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer. Found in Chapter 5, "Prayer The Great Essential."