The Ministry of Intercession: A Plea for More Prayer

In Short

This book acts as a devotional manual and a theological argument for the necessity of intercessory prayer. Through a series of reflective chapters and a structured thirty-one-day guide, the author critiques the common tendency to view prayer as a secondary task rather than a primary ministry. It has lasted because it addresses a universal feeling among believers: the sense of powerlessness and the struggle to remain consistent in devotion amidst the pressures of a busy, modern life.

The Story

The narrative begins with a confession shared by many: a sense of failure in the prayer life. The author recounts conversations with ministers and workers who, despite their dedication, feel that their prayers lack genuine heart or impact. These individuals struggle to balance their heavy workloads—committee meetings, correspondence, and pastoral duties—with the quiet, sustained practice of waiting on God. The book frames this as a crisis of priorities. If prayer is truly the work of the soul, why is it so often treated as an afterthought?

The argument proceeds by dismantling the idea that prayer is merely a secondary tool. The author insists that prayer is the very "link between the King on the throne and the Church at His footstool." Using the historical example of the early church praying for Peter’s release from prison, the text argues that prayer is a potent force capable of surmounting "stone walls and double chains." This is not, however, a promise of easy results. The author confronts the reality of inner resistance, noting that while God is willing to bless, human hearts are often unprepared to receive.

As the book progresses, the focus shifts to the internal transformation of the believer. The author posits that we cannot simply "do" prayer; we must "be" people of prayer. This state is reached through the "branch-life"—a metaphor drawn from the vine—where the believer abides in Christ, allowing the Father, as the Vinedresser, to cleanse and refine them. This process is often difficult, involving a surrender of one’s own will and a painful acknowledgment of personal sin. The author encourages readers to stop viewing their lack of prayer as an unfortunate habit and to start viewing it as a spiritual malady that requires a cure.

The story concludes with an invitation to join in a "ministry of intercession." The author moves from theoretical argument to practical application, providing a structured "Helps to Intercession" section. This final movement transforms the reader from a passive observer of their own failure into an active participant in a global movement of prayer. The ending is not a simple fix, but a redirection toward a life of "unbroken communication with heaven." The reader is left with the assurance that though they may feel unworthy or weak, the Holy Spirit acts as the true Intercessor within them.

How It Unfolds

The diagnosis of neglect The author begins by acknowledging the widespread admission among church leaders that prayer is often sacrificed for study or administrative work. This initial section establishes that the feeling of prayerlessness is not a personal anomaly but a common modern struggle.

The power of intercession The text turns to biblical examples to demonstrate that prayer is not an arbitrary request but a necessary partnership with God. By citing the apostles and the early church, the author illustrates that prayer is the primary engine for church extension and divine guidance.

The barrier of the human heart The argument moves inward, exploring why prayer feels so difficult. The author explains that the obstacle is not God’s reluctance, but our own lack of spiritual preparedness, which requires a period of refinement and surrender.

The secret of the vine The author introduces the concept of the "branch-life," emphasizing that prayer flows naturally from a heart that is already abiding in Christ. This section shifts the focus from the act of asking to the state of being.

The practical exercise The book transitions into a manual for daily practice, offering a thirty-one-day guide. This section provides specific themes for intercession, such as asking for the Holy Spirit, interceding for the suffering, and learning to pray in faith.

The People

The Author stands as a mentor and fellow struggler, speaking from his own experiences in conventions across South Africa. He is the one who initiates the conversation about failure, seeking to move his readers beyond intellectual agreement toward a radical change in their daily habits.

The Distracted Minister represents the primary audience. This person is earnest and well-meaning but caught in a web of "imperative calls of duty." They feel the weight of their pastoral responsibilities, yet they find their own heart is not in their prayers. By the end of the book, they are expected to shift their perspective, viewing their work as the "subordinate" task to the primary ministry of intercession.

The Believer is the central, collective figure. Initially, this person views prayer as an "unattainable ideal," feeling discouraged by the gap between their daily experience and the powerful accounts found in the scriptures. Through the author’s guidance, this individual learns to rely on the Holy Spirit to bridge that gap, moving from a state of "impotence" to a life of "newness" and boldness.

The Holy Spirit serves as the ultimate catalyst. While the author acts as the guide, he consistently points back to the Spirit as the one who actually performs the work of prayer within the person. The reader’s role is simply to yield, trust, and wait.

In Its Own Voice

"If God was waiting to meet us, and to give us blessing and power from heaven for His work, it was a short-sighted policy to put other work in the place which God and waiting on Him should have."

The author defends the necessity of prioritizing prayer over administrative duties.

"The Holy Spirit is given the believer to be and do in him all that God wants him to be or do."

This sentence encapsulates the book’s central reliance on divine power rather than human effort.

"Time is a quantity that accommodates itself to our will; what our hearts really consider of first importance in the day, we will soon succeed in finding time for."

In a note to his readers, the author addresses the common excuse that one is simply "too busy" to pray.

What It's Really About

The book is a sustained argument against the view that prayer is merely a preparation for "real" work. The central theme is that intercession is the work. The author challenges the reader to consider that the inability to pray is not a scheduling conflict, but a symptom of a heart not yet fully surrendered to the Divine. It asks the reader to face the contradiction of claiming to serve God while neglecting the very channel through which His power is received. Ultimately, it suggests that the "coming revival" of the Church is not dependent on new programs or smarter strategies, but on a fundamental return to the forgotten, secret ministry of prevailing prayer.

Why Read It Today

Readers who feel overwhelmed by the frantic pace of modern life will find this book both convicting and oddly restful. The author does not offer a checklist for success; instead, he invites the reader into a slower, more deliberate habit of relying on the Holy Spirit. Those interested in the history of Christian devotional literature will appreciate the Victorian-era prose, which is warm, pastoral, and deeply personal.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the author’s uncompromising stance. He does not sugarcoat the "sin" of prayerlessness, and some might find his insistence that "time is a quantity that accommodates itself to our will" a bit stern, perhaps even insensitive to the crushing demands placed on modern workers. The language is formal and occasionally repetitive, reflecting the conventions of late 19th-century religious writing. Yet, for those willing to look past the occasional period-specific turn of phrase, there is a profound, quiet strength in these pages. It is a book that demands to be read slowly—perhaps even alongside the thirty-one-day guide included at the end. It stays with you, not because of its complexity, but because it gently but firmly pulls the focus back to the simple, often-neglected core of the faith.