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“A plain man once said in the presence of the writer, ‘You must get up soon of a morning if you intend to get to windward of the Almighty.’ He spoke the truth.”―Thomas Champness, How They Prayed Vol. 2, p. 33
This is the main thrust of the first two chapters of How They Prayed Vol. 2, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey, a book which focuses on the importance of prayer in the lives of all who would serve God and minister to others. Gerhardt Tersteegen echoes the same thought:

“O brothers; in these silent hours
God’s miracles are wrought;
He giveth His beloved in sleep
A treasure all unsought.

“I sit an infant at His feet,
Where moments teach me more
Than all the toil and all the books
Of all the ages hoar.”
―Tersteegen. p. 23

“Though I am apt to be unsettled and quickly set off the hinges,” writes Joseph Alleine, “yet methinks I am like a bird out of the nest; I am never quiet till I am in my old way of communion with God, like the needle in the compass that is restless till it be turned toward the pole. I can say, through grace, with the Church, ‘with my soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me have I sought thee early.’ My heart is early and late with God; ’tis the business of my life and the delight of my life to seek Him.” p. 25

Yet never sleep the sun up; prayer should
Dawn with the day: these are set awful hours
’Twixt Heaven and us: the manna was not good
After sun-rising; for day sullies flowers:
Rise to prevent the sun; sleep doth sins glut,
And Heaven’s gates open when the world’s is shut.
―J Henry Vaughan p. 23

How They Prayed Vol. Two is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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