Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

...The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

— John 15:5,7, HCSB 

THE TESTIMONY 

Many...have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright. 

Jesus says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,—by abiding in Him,—that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith.

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.” 

Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love—this is the subject for the soul’s contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness. 

When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence it is Satan’s constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour... Many who are really conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus by separating them from Christ. 

We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him. 

If you will leave yourself in His hands, He will bring you off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you. 

— Steps to Christ, p.69-71 

THE RESPONSE 

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning, make this your very first work. 

Pray, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Yours. I lay all my plans at Your feet. Use me today in Your service. Abide in me and may all my work be done in You.”  

Dwell on His love and the beauty of His character. Contemplate Christ in His self-denial, in His purity and holiness. 

Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say, “I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me.”