Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

— Isaiah 52:7, NLT 

The Testimony 

The Lord will recognize and bless the humble worker who has a teachable spirit, a reverential love for truth and righteousness, wherever such a worker may be. If you are thus, you will show a care for your scholars by making special efforts for their salvation. You will come close to them in loving sympathy, visiting them at their homes, learning their true condition by conversing with them concerning their experience in the things of God, and you will bear them in the arms of your faith to the throne of the Father.  

To be a laborer together with God means that your heart is drawn out in strong desire for the salvation of the sinful souls for whom Christ has died… It means that the time usually spent in matters of minor importance should be spent in searching the Scriptures, that you may know how to labor successfully in the work to which you are appointed. It means that you must become acquainted with the Spirit of God. It means that you must do much praying, and have much serious thought as to how you may put to use every capability of your nature, and carry forward the work of God effectively. 

Unless you have a living connection with God, and are often before him in earnest prayer, you will not be able to do your work with heavenly wisdom, and win souls for Christ. The worker for God must be clothed with humility as with a garment.

It will do no good to reprimand, and accuse, and fret at your scholars when they manifest a spirit of unrest and mischievousness. Remember you are to be a patient laborer together with God, and that all heaven is interested in the work you are doing… Ask of your Master, who submitted to humiliation, and who endured the death of the cross, what he would have you to do. 

The wealth of divine resource is at your command, and through prayer and faith you may lay hold on the promises of God and appropriate them to your need. Consecrate yourself and your all to the service of him who hath loved you, and hath given himself for you.

—  Sabbath-School Worker, July 1, 1892 

The Response 

Loving Father, may Your Spirit fill my heart a strong desire for the salvation of sinful souls for whom Christ died. I humbly ask for heavenly wisdom to work effectively in winning souls for Christ. I consecrate myself to Your service that I may be a patient laborer together with You. Bless those I teach, I uplift them in the arms of faith to Your throne of grace.