By John Hames
"That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day." (Dan. 6:13)
There is no phase of devotion more rudely opposed by the devil than secret prayer. No doubt when we get to eternity and behold the things unseen, we will discover Satan and his rebel host spent more time striving to prevent the children of God from praying in secret than at anything else in earth or hell.
It is astonishing the various methods Satan uses to destroy our relish for secret devotion. Some of them are as follows: Sending us an undue amount of company; stirring us up to go traveling and "globe trotting;" overtaxing us with fine homes, fine furniture, and worldly cares. We know not of a more destructive instrument to secret prayer and a heavenly mind than an automobile. It may be alright in its place; however, there is something tremendously infatuating about it that swallows people up soul and body, so to speak.
Reader, if you desire a good experience and a close walk with God you must not neglect the secret prayer life. What fertilizer and showers are to vegetation, secret prayer is to the Christian's life. How soon the flowers fade and droop their heads when the dew and showers are withheld; just so does the soul when the showers of secret prayer and meditation are withheld.
No one will ever backslide while he keeps up the secret prayer life. Satan can endure an abundance of sweet singing, fine sermons and nice testimonies, but volley after volley of secret prayer will rout him every time. Secret prayer prevents spiritual stagnation, keeps the soul tender and passive, develops faith and confidence in God, helps to surmount difficulties, brings us into better acquaintance with God and keeps every grace of the Spirit flourishing in our souls.
Dear convert, if you would be successful in the divine life, never allow business, company or worldly cares to destroy your relish for secret devotion, for when it is once gone it will require no small amount of prayer and fasting to regain it.
Hundreds of church members are void of the spirit of prayer today because they misused and abused it in the earlier part of their religious experience.
