A Spirit of Prayer

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1).  Whatever subject the Puritans were dealing with, they characteristically handled it with thoughtful care and profound reverence.  Their treatment of each subject was never shallow, but examined thoroughly.  Richard Sibbes displayed these qualities in his study of the reasons God at times delays to answer our prayers.  One of the most important reasons is that God wants to develop in us a heart to persevere in prayer.  I had never considered that having “a spirit of prayer” as Sibbes put it, may be more important than any specific answer to prayer.  God will make us wait for His answer that we might learn to persevere in prayer with Him.  This spirit of prayer is better than the specific thing we were praying for.  Sibbes contended that as we increase in perseverance, all other godly qualities also increase.  He said that as God gives us a spirit of prayer, He answers us better than we ask!