Ryle on Prayer

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As I've touched upon before, I'm currently doing a lot of reading and research on the topic of prayer, which is leading my eyes and mind down all sorts of interesting tangents and viewpoints. From the sublime to the ridiculous, there are literally hundreds of books on prayer available, but there are among those quite a few duffers. Today I want to share a few thoughts from one of the smallest, which is also one of the best. J. C. Ryle is a well-known and respected author, who was the first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, who passed away in 1900. In his short pamphlet, available for just £0.77 on the Kindle, Ryle shares some profound and powerful observations on prayer.

The theme that broadly runs through his thoughts on prayer is that of life. For Ryle, "Prayer is to faith what breath is to life", and you can see how alive someone is depending on how much they pray. There were many lines and paragraphs which my thumbs thought worth highlighting, and a range of strong ideas to reflect on. At times, though, I was somewhat challenged! I read Ryle's observation that "I am afraid the private devotions of many are most painfully scanty and limited; just enough to prove they are alive and no more". This sobering assessment - made over one hundred years ago - applies just as surely today. Prayer, for many Christians, does reflect a living faith, but Ryle imagines a faith far larger, a prayer life far bolder, that echoes Jesus' incredible promise that we would have "life, and have it to the full". 

This life is what drove Ryle, and it is evident throughout this brief study of prayer. There is a beautiful part of the piece which captures wonderfully the way in which we can pray, anyone can pray;

"Just as you are, go to Christ. The worse you are, the more need you have to apply to him. You will never mend yourself by staying away. Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you. Just as a mother understands the first lispings of her infant, so does the blessed saviour understand sinners”

I think Ryle has observed here the way in which Jesus understands us. In love, regardless of our state, even as we approach him. In Christ there is no condemnation, for sinner or for the person who has been following him for decades. You cannot mend yourself, only Jesus can. And it is this Jesus who welcomes you by prayer.

The Jesus that Ryle understood in prayer is one who is accessible and understandable. Rather than being an aloof deity, or an impotent sprite, Jesus is one who loves us. The Trinitarian God of scripture and of reality is one who delights in communicating with his people. Ryle notes this, challenging and encouraging us to pray even when we don't feel like it, or are convinced we lack the words;;

“We need not be cast down and distressed by the fear of not knowing what to say. The Spirit will give us words if we seek his aid. The prayers of the Lord’s people are the inspiration of the Lord’s Spirit, the work of the Holy Ghost who dwells within them as the Spirit of grace and supplication. Surely the Lord’s people may well hope to be heard. It is not they merely that pray, but the Holy Ghost pleading in them. Reader, think of this. Is this not encouragement?”

I noted three key 'commendations' regarding prayer, and I reproduce them below;

I

On the importance of regular prayer.

“I commend to you the importance of making prayer a regular business of life. I might say something of the value of regular times in the day for prayer. God is a God of order”

II

On the radical idea of bold prayers.

“I commend to you the importance of boldness in prayer. There is an unseemly familiarity in some men’s prayers which I cannot praise. But there is such a thing as a holy boldness, which is exceedingly to be desired”

III

On being watchful of continuing in prayer.

“I commend to you the importance of watchfulness over your prayers. Prayer is that point in religion at which you must be most of all on your guard. Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes, and here it decays. Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul. Prayer is the spiritual pulse”

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I think Ryle has a profoundly helpful understanding of prayer. Using scripture, reason and anecdote he powerfully explains the kind of prayer Jesus loves, without making it some unattainable goal. I thoroughly enjoyed and was refreshed by reading "A Call to Prayer", and would encourage you to read it for yourself. Get it on the Kindle here.

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Thanks for reading this post, and I would love to connect with you via Facebook and Twitter. I've reviewed a number of other books on prayer and worship, you may enjoy these reviews:

"Long Wandering Prayer" by David Hansen - my review of this great book about prayer.

"New Testament Prayer for Everyone" by Tom Wright - my review of this awesome little book about praying through the New Testament prayers.

"A Call to Spiritual Reformation" by Don Carson - my review of this important and powerful book on prayer, which centers on unpacking Paul's prayers in the New Testament.

"Worshipping God" by R.T. Kendall - my review of this excellent book that really unpacks and explores worship.

These reviews are just some of those you can find on my 'Book Reviews' page. Thanks for reading.