" Sadly, studies have shown that American pastors pray an average of 15 minutes a day. Fifteen minutes-- no kidding. How can this be? God did not ordain His servants to be first of all administrators, second of all organizers, and thirdly good orators. He wants men who get before Him on their faces and pray. Yes, this may take a violent pressing in at times. Prayer is the front line of combat against the devil. God is not looking for a bunch of sissy Christians who won't sacrifice themselves in prayer. If you look at the greatest saints and revivalists of old, you will find one thing in common-- they where staunch men of prayer. How hungry are you to change the world for your King? It will show by the time you put into your prayer closet."
"But Prayer is not just about exhaustive, repetitive intercession, trying to twist God arm to intervene in the affairs of men. Nor is it just about tongue-talking yourself into a delirium for three hours. All of that kind of prayer is good, but you will burn out if that is your only staple. The only way a man can maintain extended prayer before the Lord is learn the practice of His presence, and how to still himself before God in silence. It is there that prayer becomes interactive. Prayer is much more about listing and basking in God's presence, than it is about talking and asking."
"'I still believe that all spiritual life consists of practicing God's presence, and that anyone who practices it correctly will soon attain spiritual fulfillment. To accomplish this , it is necessary for the heart to be emptied of everything that would offend God. He wants to possess your heart completely," writes Lawrence. I am convinced that it is all a matter of our desire--we can each have as much of God's manifest presence in our our lives as our hearts truly want."
" We have to get hungry. No measure of prayer, reading, or spiritual discipline can replace the fire of passionate hunger which God desires from us. And how can we ever become hungry for Him unless we stop to taste and see that He is good? If we truly want more of God's presence in our lives, we will get it."
"'The Lord says: 'These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men' (Isa.29:13). And yet, when the flame of divine love does begin to kindle in our souls, we know that the " eye of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose heart are fully committed to Him" (2 Chron. 16:19)."
"There is no form. No methodology to the practice of His Presence. It relies heavily on silence-- listening--but the only DNA which separates it from other systems, is that is not a system...it is a relationship."
" In the place of His nearness, in hearing His still small voice, we are supercharged. We can do super-human feats and receive heavenly visitations. Taking the time to experience God kindles the fire of heaven until it is raging within us. It is believed that, in today's postmodern era, the discontinuity of life, the discontentment with religious formulas and the evident limits of rationalist thinking are simply signposts to a cultural cry for true spiritual intimacy."
John Crowder, The New Mystics
