Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE

Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

— Psalm 100:1,4, HCSB 

The Testimony 

As we go to the house of worship, we may go with joyfulness; for are we not going to meet with God and His people?

Let every church member kneel before God while in His temple, and consecrate to him His own, which He has bought with the blood of Christ. Pray for the speaker. Pray that great blessing may come to the one who is to hold forth the bread of life. Strive earnestly to lay hold of a blessing for yourself. Cry unto God, Increase my faith, Make me understand Thy word: for the entrance of Thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Refresh me by Thy presence. Fill my heart with thy love, that in possessing so great a treasure, I may love my brethren as Christ loved me. 

God will bless all who will thus prepare themselves for His service. They will understand what it means to have the assurance of the Spirit, because they have received Christ by faith. The religion of Christ means much more than the forgiveness of sin. It means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the Holy Spirit. It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied of self, and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. We need the vital qualities of christianity, and when we possess them, the church will be a living, active, working church. 

Christ welcomed little children to His presence. He was cheered by the simplicity of their faith. Let us become as little children, that in simplicity of faith we may welcome Christ and be welcomed by Him. Sing to the Lord with the Spirit and the understanding. 

Cultivate the habit of thankfulness. Praise God over and over again for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us. 

Praise the Lord, all ye saints. Be glad in the Lord. Praise His holy name. We must carry to every religious gathering a quickened spiritual consciousness that God and the angels are there, co-operating with all true worshipers. 

— Bible Training School, October 1, 1908 

The Response 

Gracious Father, as I prepare my heart to worship together with Your people, I consecrate myself and my family to You. Take away our sins and fill the vacuum with the Holy Spirit. I pray that a great blessing may come to the speaker who is to hold forth the bread of life and that Your blessings may fall upon Your people. Increase our faith, make us to understand Your Word. Refresh us with Your presence. I praise Your holy name that You and the angels are cooperating with all true worshippers!