Prayer and Promises

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22,23, NASB 

If the loving-kindness of God called forth from our hearts more thanksgiving and praise, we should have far more power in prayer. We should abound more and more in the love of God, and have more bestowed to praise him for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change the present order, and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider his goodness and mercies, you will find that he will consider your wants.  

How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all his benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer; and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining, and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. 

Let us trust him in the darkness as well as in the day. Can we not believe that he will give us everything that is for our good? “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Even in the night of affliction, how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary? 

Dear brother, dear sister, when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, and doubt, resist his suggestions. Tell him of the blood of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin. You cannot save yourself from the tempter’s power, but he trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged. 

Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise… Our God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, declares, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” All heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. 

— Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, January 1, 1888 

O Lord, You are my refuge in sickness and in health. My mind is full of discouragement and gloom, yet I know Jesus died for me and His blood cleanses me from all sin. Your lovingkindness never ceases, they are new every morning. I trustingly leave myself in Your hands. I praise You for Your goodness and mercy in the darkness as well as the day.