Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.

— Ezekiel 36:26,27, HCSB 

THE TESTIMONY 

Why is it so hard for many to walk uprightly before God? It is because they are trying to serve two masters, a thing which the Saviour declares no man can do. If they would give themselves to Jesus, he would take possession of the soul, and every wrong desire, every false ambition, every evil purpose, would be brought into subjection to the will of God. This is the sanctification that Christ meant when he said, “I sanctify myself.” This is the sanctification that he desired for his disciples when he prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth.” 

Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” If you will make room for Jesus, and cleanse the soul from the defilement of sin, you may enjoy perfect peace with God. But some will ask, How am I to do this? By an entire surrender of your will and your way to God. 

If the time that is wasted…were devoted to the study of the Bible, to earnest prayer for the grace of Christ, the meek and quiet spirit which is the heavenly adorning of the soul, and will never perish, how easy, how pleasant, would the service of Christ become. The promise would be fulfilled, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” 

There is a constant warring of the flesh against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. The pollutions cherished in the soul war against the pure, sanctifying truth... But the Father pities the self-distrustful, God-fearing soul, harassed though he may be with doubts and temptations. Jesus pleads for him, and confesses his name before the Father and his holy angels. 

The promise is, “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” There is power in the blood of Christ to remove sin. 

The Lord wants to give power to his people. He wants them to rejoice in the God of their salvation. He wants them to be conformed to his image, that when he comes, he may receive them to himself. If we lay hold upon the arm of Infinite Power, it will sustain us through every conflict and discouragement of life, and will finally place a crown of glory upon our heads. 

— Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885 

THE Response 

Dear Father God, I give myself to You today. Take possession of my soul and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I surrender my entire will and way to You that Your will may be done in my life. I earnestly pray for the gift of the grace of Christ and the gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious in Your sight. I take hold of Your strength, O Lord, and rejoice in Your perfect peace!