Effective prayer in pastoral work arises from the habit of private prayer for prayer's own sake - or better, for the sake of fellowship with God.
Since our relationship to God is the key to everything, it is the principle area of attack upon our Christian life. Honesty and realism are required of us here. The New Testament urges us to be "clear-minded and self-controlled" so that we can pray (1Peter4:7). If we are confused or hazy in our thinking about prayer, and how to ensure its correct place in our life, we are bound to fail in achieving its proper priority. If we do not inject a fair amount of disicpline into our life, we will be unable to control the contrary elements that continually militate against prayer.
Prime & Begg, "On Being a Pastor", p66
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