Prayer and Promises

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. — Galatians 6:7,8, ESV 

Why not sow seeds of kindness, of love, of faith, of patience, of self-denial, and true benevolence, and keep all your passions under control? Such sowing will produce a harvest after its kind. Let every word and deed be a seed that will result in good fruit. 

If you seek the help and grace of God, the Holy Spirit will take possession of mind and character, and work in you… What more desirable work could you do, what could be more satisfactory to yourself, than to know that you are a blessing to your fellow men? Under the dictation of the Holy Spirit, you may be a laborer together with God in uplifting humanity. The atmosphere that surrounds your soul will be of a pure, healthful character. 

We are to be tried by temptation in order that we may learn to seek wisdom from God, and to flee to the stronghold in time of trouble. He alone will be successful in resisting temptation who finds help and grace from God. Individually we stand as did our first parents—face to face with manifold temptations that solicit mind and heart. All heaven is watching with intense interest, to see whether we will look unto Jesus and submit ourselves to his will, or whether in the temptation we shall follow the inclinations of the natural heart and the solicitations of the evil one. O, how often you have lost the battle because you have acted independent of him who has made you his own by creation and by redemption! Yielding to the solicitations of evil, you have experienced evil as did Adam when he fell into the snare; but those who through faith are kept by the power of God, learn good and precious things. They experience the peace of Christ which passeth understanding. 

“…And of his fulness we have all received, and grace for grace.” You receive grace, you develop grace; and as you reveal grace in your words, in your spirit and actions, God pours upon you a larger measure of grace. In proportion as you surrender yourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit, you are supplied with heavenly grace. You are molded and fashioned a vessel unto honor, and become a channel through which God makes manifest his grace to the world. 

— The Youth’s Instructor,  September 26, 1895 

Dear Lord, I seek Your help and grace that I may sow seeds of kindness, love and faith. I surrender myself to the working of the Holy Spirit asking You to take possession of my mind and character. Keep me by Your power that I may learn Your good and precious ways. May the atmosphere that surrounds my soul reveal Your pure and wholesome spirit. I pray for Your heavenly grace that I may become a laborer together with You in blessing and uplifting humanity.