Prayer and Promises

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages. — Mark 16:17, HCSB 

Every petition that is offered to God in faith, and with a true heart, will be answered. 

Satan is ever ready to insinuate that prayer is a mere form, and avails us nothing. He cannot bear to have his powerful rival appealed to. At the sound of fervent prayer, the hosts of darkness tremble. Fearing that their captive may escape, they form a wall around him, that Heaven’s light may not reach his soul. But if in his distress and helplessness the sinner looks to Jesus, pleading the merits of his blood, our compassionate Redeemer listens to the earnest, persevering prayer of faith, and sends to his deliverance a re-enforcement of angels that excel in strength. And when these angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of Heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, the angels of darkness fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost. 

Precious Saviour! his grace is sufficient for the weakest, and the strongest must have his help or perish. A Christian has victory over his passions and besetments... It is the privilege of the Christian to enjoy the deep movings of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade his mind. He will love to meditate upon God and Heaven, and to feast upon the glorious promises of the written word. 

Go to your closet, dear reader, and there plead with God: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Be in earnest; be sincere; Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Do not leave your closet until you feel strong in God. Remain until unutterable longings for salvation are awakened in your heart, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin. Then when you leave your closet, watch; and so long as you watch and pray, the grace of God will appear in your life. 

With the word of God for our guide, and Jesus for our heavenly teacher, we need not be ignorant of the divine requirements or of Satan’s devices. And it will be no unpleasant task to be obedient to the will of God, when we yield ourselves fully to be directed by his Spirit. 

— Signs of the Times, November 18, 1886 

O my Lord, in my distress and weakness, I come to You pleading the merits of the blood of Christ, You are my Redeemer. I will take Your word as my guide and look to Jesus as my heavenly teacher. I fully yield myself to You that Your Holy Spirit may direct and guide me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Thank You for driving away the demons. I praise You for Your grace in my life and the glorious promises in Your word!