Prayer and Promises

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. — 1 John 5:14,15, BSB 

The Lord would have every one come to him as their Refuge, for counsel, and for comfort, and for hope, in all their anxieties. To him you may tell all your griefs. You will never be told, “I cannot help you…” To him all your griefs are worthy of consideration. You may have his help under every difficulty. You may, I may, the weakest one in all the ranks of believers may, trust in a loving, pitiful, faithful High Priest, who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He keeps us safe from Satan’s power even while we are full of perplexities, discouragements, and trials. Every believer is to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith. 

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” This is the lesson given to every soul who has commenced the new year. In all your temporal concerns, in all your cares and anxieties, wait upon the Lord… bring all your burdens, both public and private, to the Lord, and wait upon him. You will then have an individual experience, a conviction of his presence and his readiness to hear your prayer for wisdom and for instruction. 

He would have you rejoice and praise him every day for the privilege granted to you in the words of Christ: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” Spread out your case before the Lord, and whatever your anxieties and trials, your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened before you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. You need not go to the next town or to the ends of the earth to learn what course you shall pursue. Trust in God as your present Helper, who will overrule all things as One who knows best. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him…” 

“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Take this with you through the year. The strength of every soul is in God and not in man. Quietness and confidence is to be the strength of all who give their hearts to God. 

— The Home Missionary, June 1, 1897 

My dear Savior, I am grateful for the privilege of coming to You for strength and rest from all my anxieties. You have never failed to help me in every difficulty. I come now with my burdens, help me as I wait upon You for wisdom and instruction. Open the way to disentangle myself from embarrassment and difficulty. I put my full confidence in You!