Deep teaching on prayer by Kathryn Kuhlman
Deep teaching on prayer by Kathryn Kuhlman
During Kathryn Kuhlman’s ministry, her heartfelt messages inspired and blessed thousands. Many of her sermons, preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, were recorded, allowing her teachings to reach even more people.
ize that the greatest power God has given to men and women is the power of prayer? There is no greater gift from God—no greater power available to us—than prayer. We often talk about the wonderful gifts of the Spirit: the gift of wisdom, the gift of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gift of healing. These are glorious, thrilling gifts. Even the gift that Jesus gave to His church—the Holy Spirit—is a divine treasure. Yet, above all these gifts, the greatest gift God has given to any individual is the gift of prayer.
Think about it—the power of prayer allows us to come directly before the throne of God Almighty, the One who spoke the universe into existence. He is limitless in power, undefeated, and filled with perfect wisdom. Just pause for a moment and try to grasp the magnitude of this power.
Why Neglect the Greatest Power?
If prayer is so powerful, why do so many people neglect it? Think of the years, the weeks, even the days you have lived without prayer. A renowned psychiatrist once stated that neglecting prayer means neglecting the greatest power available for healing. He even refuses to treat patients who do not believe in God, explaining that it is impossible to help someone heal unless they have something greater than themselves to trust in and love.
A doctor in Pittsburgh once stopped me and said, “Kathryn Kuhlman, I need to speak with you personally.” I agreed, and he continued, “I want to incorporate something you give to people into my own practice with patients.” He recognized that true healing—both physical and emotional—requires faith in something beyond ourselves.
The Art of Prayer: A Skill to Be Learned
For a few moments, let’s talk about the art of prayer—because it is something we must learn. Often, we fail because we are not taught how to pray. People expect results without practice. Imagine someone picking up a musical instrument for the first time and expecting to play a perfect melody. That would be foolish! Mastery requires time, training, and dedication.
I once heard the story of a missionary’s young son in India who bought a mouth organ. He came home in tears, heartbroken, saying, “Daddy, that man cheated me! There’s no ‘God Save the King’ in this mouth organ.” The boy had watched a street performer play the tune and thought the instrument itself contained the music. But he didn’t realize that skill and practice were required to produce the melody.
Likewise, many people believe they can achieve immediate, ready-made results in prayer without putting in the effort. But prayer, like any discipline, requires dedication.
Three Key Elements of Prayer
When it comes to prayer, three things are essential:
- Listen.
- Learn.
- Obey.
Without these, prayer becomes a meaningless ritual rather than a powerful force. If we spent half the time learning to pray as we do learning other skills, we would see ten times the results.
Prayer Is Not a Luxury—It Is Life
Prayer is not an occasional luxury; it is the very essence of life. If I could give you one thing in these next few moments, it would be an understanding of what I have learned about prayer. But this knowledge didn’t come in an hour or a day—it has been a lifelong journey. I have come to understand that prayer is life itself.
Prayer is an act of self-giving. Many people pray but see no results. Perhaps the reason is this: True prayer requires you to give yourself to God. Your request must be backed by your surrender, or the answer will not be backed by God.
God cannot give you things apart from Himself, and you cannot receive from God apart from yourself. Prayer is a two-way exchange—you give yourself to Him, and in return, He gives Himself to you.
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