I commend to you the importance of watchfulness over your prayers.  Prayer is that point in religion at which you must be most of all on your guard.  Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes, and here it decays.  Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul.  Prayer is the spiritual pulse.  By this the spiritual health may be tested.

– J.C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of fullness in prayer….  I am afraid the private devotions of many are most painfully scanty and limited; just enough to prove they are alive and no more.  They really seem to want little from God.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of perseverance in prayer.  Once having begun the habit, never give it up….let no excuse make you give up prayer.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of intercession in our prayers….  We should stir ourselves up to name other names besides our own before the throne of grace.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of particularity in prayer. We ought not to be content with great general petitions. We ought to specify our wants before the throne of grace. 

– J.C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of thankfulness in prayer….  Surely we should never open our lips in prayer without blessing God for that free grace by which we live, and for that loving kindness which endureth for ever.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of praying with faith…. We should cultivate the habit of expecting answers to our prayers.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of earnestness in prayer….  It is desirable that we should be hearty and fervent and warm, and ask as if we were really interested in what we were doing.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend to you the importance of making prayer a regular business of life….  Just as you allot time to eating, sleeping, and business, also allot time to prayer.

– J. C. Ryle

I commend then to your attention, the importance of reverence and humility in prayer.  Let us never forget what we are, and what a solemn thing it is to speak with God.  Let us beware of rushing into his presence with carelessness and levity.

– J. C. Ryle