Prayer and Promises

Based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. — 2 Peter 3:13,14, HCSB 

Why is there unhappiness in the home? Why are there stinging, bitter words uttered, and unkindness manifested one toward another? Do you not know that “by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”? If the heart has the treasure of goodness, if Jesus is formed within, the hope of glory, the goodness will proceed from the heart. Open the door of the heart, and let the Saviour in. Clear away the rubbish from the door, and give him full entrance... We are not to have that kind of faith that will lead us to present our own righteousness, but we must have that faith that appropriates the righteousness of Christ. All our self-exaltation is in vain. 

By living faith will you not grasp the promises of God, and appropriate Christ’s righteousness, and find the light of heaven shining in your life? You are to bring Christ into your every thought and action. A defective link in a chain makes it worthless, and a defect in your character will unfit you to enter the kingdom of heaven. You must set everything in order. But you cannot do this great work without divine aid. Are you ready to accept the promises of God, and to make them your own by living faith in his immutable word? You should walk by faith, not by feeling... This faith plants its feet on the eternal rock of God’s word. Those who walk by faith are all the time seeking for perfection of character by constant obedience to Christ. The Captain of our salvation has given us his orders, and we are to yield implicit obedience; but if we close the Book that reveals his will, and do not inquire, or search, or seek to understand, how can we fulfill its obligation? 

We are to be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. How do you stand before God today? The question is not, How will you stand in the day of trouble, or at some future time? but how is it with your soul today?... We want a personal, individual experience today. Today, we want Christ abiding with us. 

— The Review and Herald, April 9, 1889 

Father God, I open the door of my heart to let my Savior in. I clear away the rubbish from the door to give You full entrance. By living faith I grasp the promise and claim Christ as my righteousness. I need Your divine aid, O Lord. I cling to Your promise that I may bring Christ into my every thought and action.  I open the Bible and plant my feet on the eternal rock of Your Word that the light of heaven may shine on me and I may walk in loving obedience to Christ my Savior.