Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 

— Romans 10:10,11, NASB 

The Testimony 

Oftentimes professed Christians bring upon themselves great spiritual weakness by dwelling upon their trials and grievances. Not only does the matter become magnified by every repetition, but they as surely separate from Jesus... They begin to pity and sympathize with themselves, and to lose faith and confidence in Jesus. 

To such we would say, Recount what God has done for you. Tell Satan that you do not trust in your own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ. Keep the mind filled with the precious promises found in the Bible, and when Satan comes in like a flood to overwhelm you, meet him with the weapon which the word of God has provided, “It is written.” This will break his power and give you the victory. 

We are pilgrims and strangers in this world; but we are traveling to a heavenly country. We shall meet with disappointments; but it is our privilege to turn every apparent defeat into a victory. Satan will contend for our souls every step of the way; but if we look over to Jesus, our present help in every time of need, he will lift up for us a standard against the enemy. 

I feel so thankful this morning that we can commit the keeping of our souls to God as unto a faithful Creator. Sometimes the enemy presses me the hardest with his temptations and darkness when I am about to speak to the people. I have such a sense of weakness that it seems like an impossibility to stand before the congregation. But if I should give up to my feelings, and say that I could not speak, the enemy would gain the victory. I dare not do this. I move right forward, take my place in the desk, and say, “Jesus, I hang my helpless soul on thee; thou wilt not suffer me to be brought to confusion,” and the Lord gives me the victory. 

God honors my faith. I plead his promises, and he helps me... I am not going to talk doubt and unbelief; neither will I dwell upon my infirmities. I will talk of Jesus and his power to save. It is “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” 

— Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 1886, p.130 

The Response 

My Father, I am grieved, for this trial is too hard to bear. Hear my cry for help. I fix my eyes on Jesus, my present help in every time of need. O Lord, You promised to turn every apparent defeat into victory and to lift up a standard to cause the enemy to flee.  Thank You for the precious promise that You will not let me be brought to confusion. I hang my helpless soul on You and praise You for victory in Jesus!