"When you read the great Christian leaders of the past, they grappled with prayer," said Jeff Pollard at the Shepherding the Flock conference in Asheville, North Carolina. "They say in their diaries, 'I didn't break through today.' "When prayer is dead, it is dry and dull. You will often read a Christian man write, 'After searching Christ earnestly, I broke through.' They wanted the satisfaction of communicating with their Savior. Men of prayer struggle with prayer. John Calvin said, “The communion of men with God, having entered His promises in order to experience that what they believe is not in vain.” Prayer is not the rote, running through in a hurry talking at God. Pastors, do you ask the men of your congregation about their prayer lives? Not to check it off your list, but out of genuine sincerity, to guide and encourage them. John Knox said, "Prayer is an earnest and familiar talking with God, to whom we declare our miseries, desire in our adversities, and whom we laud and praise for our benefits received." John Bunyan said, "Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart and soul to God, through Christ, with the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God." It's not too late to sign up to video stream all 10 key sessions of The Power of the Gospel conference tonight, October 30th through Saturday, November 1st for just $35. And, even if you cannot watch them all live, you can view them in an archive through December 1st at your convenience.