Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 

— Philemon 1:4,6, ESV 

The Testimony 

When the spirit of Christ pervades the heart, a Christ-like yearning, an intensity of love for souls will absorb every other interest, and self will no longer be prominent. 

Inquire prayerfully, while you search the Scriptures diligently, “What service has the Lord enjoined upon me?” One thing is certain, we must keep the way of the Lord, and not imagine our own ways perfect. 

By partaking of the spirit of Christ, we would not fail nor be discouraged. We would study, plan, and pray to God for wisdom and grace, that we might save the souls in the highways and broadways of life. The Holy Spirit of God must come into our hearts, to sanctify our souls, and to arouse our entire beings to earnest action. We must drink deeper of the spirit of the message… We need faith, more faith; we must believe in Jesus as our personal Saviour. Do we believe the word of God or the traditions of men? 

Whenever man accomplishes anything, it is by co-operation with his Maker; but in the saving of the souls of men, God does all the work, making man his instrument. Man cannot manage the work of God in his own way, for the outward work is vain unless God works with it… He must pray, he must search the Scriptures, he must believe the word of God, he must know that Christ is the propitiation for his sins, and for the sins of the whole world. 

Let us put ourselves wholly on the Lord’s side. May it be the language of every heart, “Lord, I will believe; I do believe thy word.” Cherish love and confidence, for by cultivating these graces, they will grow. Talk faith, live faith, and in the face of every discouragement plant yourselves on the promises of God. Those who are engaged in our missions, doing the work of the Master, should continually learn lessons of faith, and grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Then they will witness the manifestation of the power of God, and missions will become all that the Lord designs them to be. 

— The Review and Herald, May 6, 1890 

The Response 

My Lord, fill my heart with the Spirit of Christ’s love for souls. I plead for Your Holy Spirit to come into my heart and sanctify my soul for Your work. I pray for Your wisdom and grace that Your plans may be my plans, for I cannot manage the work in my own way. Lord, I believe Your word and am thankful that through Your promises I may witness the manifestation of Your power!