Verse 2 - Heb. 4:16

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

During this fast, we have been encouraged to read R.A. Torrey's little book,  How to Pray.  I've heard much acclaim for this classic, but had never read it, so Sunday I stopped by the church bookstore and picked up a copy.

Challenging and convicting are the words I would use to describe what I've read so far...and I'm only about half way through the first chapter.  How's this for a knock-you-back-to-think-a-minute:

...prayer took much of the time and strength of Jesus; a man or woman who does not spend much time in prayer cannot properly be called a follower of Jesus Christ.

Ouch.

Now, Torrey does allow that we can be praying often, even continually, as we go about our business; the logic of this made me smile:

the woman who has to take in washing for a living can have part -- she can mingle prayers for the saints, and for her pastor, and for the unsaved, and for foreign missionaries, with the soap and water as she bends over the washtub, and not do the washing any more poorly on that account;

...but he does go on to state that  we must...take time -- and take plenty of it -- when we shall shut ourselves up in the secret place alone with God for nothing but prayer.

So, I have chosen for my second SSMT verse of 2013 a verse that Torrey mentions in the first chapter; one I already know...sort of...but want to make a part of my daily walk, not only during the fast, but from this point forward:

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. -- Heb. 4:16, NIV 84