ANDREW BONAR WAS JUST one of many Scottish ministers used of God during the Kilsyth Revival of 1839-1840. The ministers most honored by Christ's presence during this time of refreshing were W. C. Burns, Robert Murray McCheyne, Alexander Moody Stuart and Andrew Bonar. All of these men were close friends who encouraged one another in the practice of constant prayer. Soon after the decline of the Kilsyth Revival, Andrew Bonar Said, "I have learned by experience that it is not much labor but much prayer that is the only means to success." Mr. Bonar was able to accomplish much with men in public because he spent much time with Jesus Christ in private. The daily entries of Bonar's diary testify of this fact. He wrote on January 3rd, 1856, "I have been endeavoring to keep up prayer at this season every hour of the day, stopping my occupation, whatever it is, to pray a little. I seek to keep my soul within the shadow of the throne of grace and Him that sits thereon." Sabbath, March 8th - "I feel afraid of myself on the ground that I am less prayerful than I used to be, although often more helped in preaching then ever.”
In a letter to a close friend Andrew Bonar wrote, "Oh brother pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer, rather neglect friends than not pray, rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, supper and sleep too - than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer - we must pray in right earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while The Virgins Slumber." Andrew Bonar lived in a time of revival and yet he was always praying for more of God's revival power. His diary again makes this clear. Wednesday, 21st, - "Enabled to spend nearly the whole day in prayer, praise and confession. I was led to deep humiliation for our church, and prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on my people. I spread out several promises before the Lord, and my heart was sore with desire and yet glad with expectation of what this day may obtain for me. But I find true what Samuel Rutherford wrote: 'A bed watered with tears, a throat dry with praying, eyes a fountain of tears for the sins of the land are rarely to be found among us.'"
Be the first to react on this!
