Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

— Joshua 1:8, NIV 

THE TESTIMONY 

The mind that dwells much on the revealed will of God to man will become strong in the truth. Those who read and study with an earnest desire for divine light, whether they are ministers or not, will soon discover in the Scriptures a beauty and harmony which will captivate their attention, elevate their thoughts, and give them an inspiration and an energy of argument that will be powerful to convict and convert souls. 

Some have not the love of God in the heart, softening, molding, and ennobling their lives. The psalmist declares of the good man: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” He refers to his own experience, and exclaims: “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.” 

“The prayer of the upright is His delight.” He will not be slow to hear those who open their hearts to Him, not exalting self, but sincerely feeling their great weakness and unworthiness. 

There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.”... This is the spirit of wrestling prayer. 

Daniel prayed to God, not exalting himself or claiming any goodness: “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God.” This is what James calls the effectual, fervent prayer. 

Communion with God imparts to the soul an intimate knowledge of His will. But many who profess the faith know not what true conversion is. They have no experience in communion with the Father through Jesus Christ, and have never felt the power of divine grace to sanctify the heart. 

True prayer engages the energies of the soul and affects the life. He who thus pours out his wants before God feels the emptiness of everything else under heaven. 

— Testimonies for the Church Volume 4, p.526,534 

THE RESPONSE 

Let your mind dwell much on the will of God. Read and study the Scriptures with an earnest desire for divine light. 

Meditate on His word day and night, delight in the law of the Lord. 

Open your heart to Him, not exalting self but sincerely feel your great weakness and unworthiness.

Engage the energies of your soul in true prayer pouring out your wants before God.