Prayer and Promises

The Promise

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

— John 8:12, BSB 

The Testimony 

If we are following Jesus, we shall not walk in darkness. If his light illuminates the mind and shines into the chambers of the heart, we shall be as Christ has said, “the light of the world.” We shall see light, and shall talk of the love of Christ, talk of his goodness and marvelous mercy, and we shall always find enough to talk about on these themes, even to all eternity. 

The trouble with many of us is, we get our eye fixed upon the shadow that Satan casts between our souls and God, and fail to discover the light beyond the shadow. We talk in a kind of hopeless way, as if we were slaves serving a tyrant. 

Instead of talking darkness, instead of having thoughts of gloom, we should remember that we have everything to make us glad, and this gladness should shine in our very faces… Look upon Jesus, full of forgiveness and mercy and peace, instead of upon that which will bring condemnation and gloom. Look toward the light, and behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and points out this neglect and that wrong, tell him that you know you are a sinner, but that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Tell him, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Repeat the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus stands between divinity and humanity, and he is fully able to save you. He was manifested to take away our sins, to relieve our hearts of their sorrows and burdens, to put a new song into our mouth, even praise unto our God. Present the promise to God in the name of Jesus, and you have his pledged word that he will let the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you. 

We are to respond to the invitations of the Spirit of God… It is his Holy Spirit that impresses us with the necessity of emptying the soul of all selfishness; and when we give ourselves to God, he will fill the vacuum with his divine Spirit, and give us the precious graces of his own character. 

— Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, July 1, 1892

The Response 

O my Father, illuminate my heart and mind in Your light. I look to Your marvelous mercy instead of myself or the darkness around me. You are so good to take away my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, I am filled with gratitude for Your forgiveness and Your sweet peace. You are faithful to Your promises! I empty my heart of self and ask that You fill the vacuum with Your divine Spirit.