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  EFFORT IN PRAYER
  by Mary Wilder Tileston
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Summary: Mary Wilder Tileston encourages listeners to make a sincere
effort to pray continually, even when it's hardest, and to trust that
God sees their will to pray as the deed.

Topics: "Persistent Prayer", "Communion With God"
Scripture References: Matthew 26:41, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16

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DESCRIPTION
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Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of Richard Chenevix Trench,
Edward Meyrick Goulburn, and Charles H. Brent, emphasizes the importance
of perseverance in prayer, even when distractions prevail or when it is
difficult to raise one's mind to commune with God. The focus is on
maintaining a continual readiness for prayer and praise, with a heart
like an altar always prepared to ignite with the slightest spark of
prayer. The message encourages believers to make a sincere effort to
draw near to God, even in moments of dryness or heaviness, as God values
the will to pray as much as the act itself.

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CONTENT
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Continue in prayer, and watch in the same.

COLOSSIANS 4:2

BUT if distractions manifold prevail,

And if in this we must confess we fail,

Grant us to keep at least a prompt desire,

Continual readiness for prayer and praise,

An altar heaped and waiting to take fire

With the least spark, and leap into a blaze.

RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH

WHEN the set time comes round for prayer, it may be, and often is, the
case that the mind is de-pressed, and finds it a hard struggle to raise
itself up to communion with God. Your purpose is to hold communion with
the Infinite Wisdom and Infinite Love; can you do this, or even attempt
this, without coming away from the exercise brighter, calmer, hap-pier,
stronger against evil? Make a vigorous effort to throw your whole soul
into some very short petition, and the spirit of inertness and heaviness
shall be ex-orcised. But if not, and thy mind be dry to the end, do not
disquiet thyself. If only thou makest a sincere effort to draw near to
God, all shall be well. He sees that thou hast a will to pray, and
accounts the will for the deed.

EDWARD MEYRICK GOULBURN

Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray.

CHARLES H. BRENT

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/mary-wilder-tileston/effort-in-prayer/
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