John Bunyan on Prayer

   John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, had a lot to say on the subject of prayer, all of which is worthy of our careful attention.   Bunyan wrote, “Those who pray receive great things for themselves and for those they pray for.  Prayer opens the heart of God and fills the empty soul.  By prayer a Christian can open his heart to God as to a friend, and obtain fresh testimony of God’s friendship to him.  Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart to God through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit for such things as God has promised.”   Bunyan wrote that the greatest benefit of prayer is its effect on the heart of the one who prays, “Praying with affection engages the whole man in a way that must have his prayer heard, and communion and comfort from Christ experienced.  Saints have lost their lives rather than go without this blessing.  The soul that so prays sees an emptyness in all things under heaven; in God alone there is rest and satisfaction of soul.”