This book has been written with a deep impression that the place and power of prayer in the Christian life is too little understood. I feel sure that as long as we look on prayer solely as the means of maintaining our own Christian life, we shall not know fully what it is meant to be. But when we learn to regard it as the highest part of the work entrusted to us, the root and strength of all other work, we shall see that we need nothing more than to study and practice the art of praying.

If I have succeeded in pointing out the progressive teaching of our Lord in regard to prayer, and the distinct reference of His wonderful promises of His last night to the works we are to do in His name – to the greater works and the bearing of much fruit – we shall all admit that only when the church gives herself up to this holy work of intercession can she expect the power of Christ to manifest itself on her behalf. I pray that God will use this book to explain to some of His children the wonderful place of power and influence that He is waiting for them to occupy and that a weary world is waiting for too.
– Andrew Murray

About the Author
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a well-known South African writer, teacher, and pastor. More than two million copies of his books have been sold, and his name is mentioned among other great leaders of the past, such as Charles Spurgeon, T. Austin-Sparks, George Muller, D. L. Moody, and more.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. – John 15:10

God will not honor the person who is not obedient.

For us to have favor with God, obedience is of utmost importance. To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). This is evident from the very beginning of the Bible to the very end: Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14).

From Paradise lost to Paradise regained, the necessity for obedience remains the same. It is only obedience that restores access to the tree of life and favor with God. While the original disobedience was the cause of humanity’s fall, through the obedience of Christ to the Father, and through our obedience to Christ, we can once again be restored. Although he was the Son of God, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal saving health unto all those that hearken unto him (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Let this study awaken in you an earnest desire to fully know God’s will concerning this truth. Let us unite in praying that the Holy Spirit will show us how defective the Christian’s life is in which obedience does not rule everything. Let us desire to learn how that life can be exchanged for one of full surrender to absolute obedience, and how certain it is that God, through Christ, will enable us to live it out.

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