June 23 / Springs in the Valley by L.B. Cowman

June 23

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1)

That little “ought” is emphatic. It implies obligation as high as heaven. Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray,” and added, “and not to faint.”

I confess I do not always feel like praying—when, judging by my feelings, there is no one listening to my prayer. And then these words have stirred me to pray:

I ought to pray— 

I ought always to pray— I

 should not grow faint in praying. 

Praying is a form of work. The farmer plows his field often when he does not feel like it, but he confidently expects a crop for his labors. Now, if prayer is a form of work, and our labor is not in vain in the Lord, should we not pray regardless of feelings? Once when I knelt for morning prayers I felt a sort of deadness in my soul, and just then the “accuser of the brethren” became busy reminding me of things that had long since been under the Blood. I cried to God for help, and the blessed Comforter reminded me that my Great High Priest was pleading my case; that I must come boldly to the throne of grace. I did, and the enemy was routed! What a blessed time of communion I had with my Lord! Had I fainted instead of fighting I could not have received wages because I had not labored fervently in prayer; I could not have reaped because I had not sown. COMMISSIONER BRENGLE

Cowman, L. B. E.. Springs in the Valley (p. 187). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.