JC Ryle, speaking to church members, shared this inside scoop with them:
Never be surprised if you hear ministers of the gospel dwelling much on the importance of prayer. This is the point they want to bring to you. They want to know that you pray. Your views of doctrine may be correct. Your love of Protestantism may be warm and unmistakable. But still this may be nothing more than head knowledge and party spirit. They want to know whether you are actually acquainted with the throne of grace, and whether you can speak to God as well as speak about God.
JC Ryle didn’t know me but he described my heart quite concisely right there.
This is exactly what I want to know.
Are you acquainted with the throne of grace?
Are you accustomed to conversing with God in prayer?
Do you regularly linger long in prayer?
This is what I need to know.
I can see that you show up at church.
I can see that you have loving relationships with others in the church family.
I can see that you hear sound teaching. I can see that it registers with you to (at least) the extent that you can talk about it briefly afterwards.
But do you pray?
Are you convinced that all power is of God? All blessing? All change? All hope?
Are you acting on the premise that God is and that He rewards those who seek Him in faithful prayer?