In Trouble? Pray!

Prayer is a product or branch of faith. God gives faith to make use of prayer. God will not give this great privilege without hearts to make use of it. As soon as Paul was a believer, presently after his conversion, 'behold he is praying' (Acts 9:11). The child cries as soon as born, and the child of God is known by his praying; as soon as he is converted, an intercourse is opened between God and the soul, which a Christian soul will never neglect. If they are placed in the worst condition, they will pray to God, or at least sigh and groan, which is a prayer that God can make sense of.
Those that have any strong places of defence, in trouble they will be sure to fly there; in times of war they will betake them to their castle and place of munition. And so, they that be God's, in time of danger run presently to God; he is their rock, their refuge, and place of defence. They run to him by faith and prayer. A man may know what his god is by who he runs to in times of extremity. The carnal man runs to his friends or to his purse to bring him through. He will go to that which his instinct will specially lead him to in times of trouble. Every creature has received an instinct from God to go to the place of refuge wherein it is safe. The rabbits, poor weak creatures, hide themselves most strongly, out of instinct they have of their own weakness. Likewise, God's child, being knowledgeable of his weakness, and need of support and strength, has the strongest support that may be, and runs to his God. Worldly men have many schemes, as the wily fox has; but a Christian has but one, but that is a great one: he goes to his God in time of need. In times of extremity, no man but a Christian can pray with any comfort, with any sweet familiarity, 'Abba, Father."

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Heavenly Conference, pp. 130-32
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