Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

— James 4:8,10, NKJV 

THE TESTIMONY 

The word of the Lord says, “Draw nigh to God, and” perhaps he will draw nigh to you? No, the promise is, “He will draw nigh to you.” God does not do anything for man without his cooperation. He draws you by the tender cords of his love, and as you respond to this drawing, you draw nigh to him. As you are seeking his face, the angels minister unto you. He has at his command ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of angels. They are constantly ascending and descending... They receive their commission from God, whose eye beholds all things; and when a soul is in discouragement, he sends help from heaven, even before the prayer for help is uttered. Before we ask, he commissions his ministers to go forth with divine aid. During the sleepless nights I have passed through the months of my illness, I have taken indescribable comfort in these thoughts. As soon as my mind was fixed on Jesus, the clouds of darkness were transformed, and all was light in the Lord. My soul was melted with his love. Fix the eyes upon Jesus, and say, “Lead me, guide me.” Your prayer will ascend before the Father as fragrant incense.

Jesus encourages us to present his merit at the throne. He says, “If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Oh, educate the soul to believe the promises of God. Would he make such promises if he did not love us?... Our Heavenly Father has valued us at the price of Jesus, and, having been bought at such a cost, what right have we to spend our God-given capabilities in the service of the world and sin? What right have we to fritter away our time, to use our talents in aiding the work of the powers of darkness? “Set your affections on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” 

In our darkest hours we want to be able to see matchless charms in Jesus, to set our affections on things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, that our life may be hid with Christ in God, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also may appear with him in glory. 

— Signs of the Times, January 16, 1893 

THE RESPONSE 

Draw near to God and pray for His help when your soul is discouraged. Fix your mind on Jesus and say, “Lead me, guide me.”

Present the merits of Jesus with the promise, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Educate your soul to believe the promises of God. Appreciate the price Jesus paid to redeem you from the world and sin.

In your darkest hours look to Jesus. Set your affections on things above where Christ sits and hide your life with Christ in God.