Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

...We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 
— Colossians 1:9,10, NASB 

THE TESTIMONY 

He who calls upon the Lord in humble, fervent prayer will receive the strength and grace which he needs to battle with temptation and to endure trials. In coming to God, the petitioner must present Christ as his authority. 

Jesus taught that it was essential that all his children should pray; because they are needy and sinful and dependent, and because there is a malignant foe who is ever seeking the ruin of souls. Satan and his angels are ever upon the track of those who would do the will of God, tempting them to do evil, that they may be unhappy in this life, and lose also the life eternal which Jesus died to purchase for his followers... It is through leading us to yield to his temptations that Satan robs us of happiness here and eternal life at last. 

As a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would have you ask him for the things which you need. If your sins are heavy upon your heart, you are to come to God and say, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.” Every sincere prayer will be heard in heaven, and every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered. 

In humble faith you may claim his promises, and feel that although you have nothing in yourself whereby you may claim the favor of God, because of the merits and righteousness of Christ, you may come boldly to the throne of grace, and find help in time of need. 

Ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before him the secrets of your heart; for his eye searches the inmost recesses of the soul, and he reads your thoughts as an open book. When you have asked for the things that are necessary for your soul’s good, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. Accept his gifts with your whole heart; for Jesus has died that you might have the precious things of heaven as your own, and at last find a home with the heavenly angels in the kingdom of God. 

— The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1892 

THE RESPONSE 

Ask the Lord for the things which you need as a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry. 

If your sins are heavy on your heart, come to God and say, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.” Every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered. 

In humble faith claim His promises, claim the favor of God through the merits and righteousness of Christ. 

When you have asked for the things that are necessary for your soul’s good, believe that you receive them. Accept His gifts with your whole heart.