The faithful lives of other saints brings me great encouragement. It reminds me of Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith, and Hebrews 12:1-2.

“12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

John Wesley was a great evangelist and preacher whom God used mightily. He was the founder of the Methodist Church. He was used to draw people to God, living out their faith practically. I believe that one secret of his great work for the kingdom of God was prayer.

It is said that he arose at 4 each morning for prayer and would pray for four hours, eight hours in later years. His time of prayer was not a time of asking, but of communing with God.

John Wesley said:

• “Prayer is where the action is.” (I love this one. So often, we feel as if we are on the sidelines due to disability. Yet, we can be part of the action through prayer!)
• “Proceed with much prayer, and your way will be made plain.“
• “I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.“
• “I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that God would restore the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the poor deluded rebels in America.“
• “All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice.“
• “The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness.“

My heart is challenged as I think of Wesley’s prayer life. What could God do through us if we were to spend that much time in prayer? Is God calling us to be an army of prayer warriors for Him through our isolation?