Warren E. Berkley

The Effective, Fervent Prayer

Pause and reflect on all the influences that lead you to worship God in spirit and in truth. There is our faith in Jesus Christ, who died for us. Add to this our knowledge of all that should be done before God, revealed to us in His Word. Do not leave out the encouragement of association with God’s people. These are some of the influences that can bring us to the assembly with good motive, reverent attitude and desire to worship God as He has directed.

When I look back over my life, there is something else that greatly contributed to my present interests in worshipping God. One of the earliest memories I have is, hearing my father pray. When a child hears his father pray to “Almighty God” day after day, that single voice makes a lasting impression and helps form the child’s concept of reverence to God. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” (Jas. 5:17).