Prayer—The Forerunner of Mercy

Charles Spurgeon preaches that prayer is the necessary forerunner to receiving God's blessings, explaining that while God has already made promises, He requires His people to ask Him through prayer before He will fulfill those promises. He argues that God designed it this way for several reasons: so that we would have a reason to come to Him and develop a relationship, because the act of praying itself often brings comfort and clarity, and because prayer teaches us to value the blessings more when they finally arrive. Spurgeon urges his listeners to pray constantly for themselves, their families, their churches, and ministers, warning that neglecting prayer during this time of spiritual opportunity would be a tragic waste, and encouraging young believers to persevere in prayer even when their families oppose them.Sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on June 28, 1857.