Being and Doing – 15 November – Prayer

IMPORTUNITY is the essence of successful prayer…  and importunity means, not dreaminess, but sustained work.   It is through prayer especially that the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

It was a saying of the late Bishop Hamilton, of Salisbury, that ‘No man was likely to do much good in prayer who did not begin by looking upon it in the light of a work, to be prepared for and persevered in with all the earnestness which we bring to bear upon subjects which are, in our opinions, at once most interesting and most necessary.’

Canon LIDDON

I WOULD, with much solicitude, urge the habit of stated prayer.   The heart is so apt to slide from under its intentions, if not compacted by the regularity of habit, that it is hardly safe to trust them;  every hour brings its hindrances, and so often in the shape of all but needful business, that the path to the bush will, in most cases, be overgrown, if not trodden at the stated periods.

ANN TAYLOR

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.