Prayer and Promises

“I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 18:3,4, HCSB 

All who come with the confiding love of a little child will find a Father there. How could the Lord express his love to us in more tender language than that in which he has expressed it in his precious word? He tells us just what to do in order that we may be saved. How I wish that we might all believe in the promises of God. He says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.” Do we really believe this promise? We should comply with the conditions laid down in God’s word; for if we do this we shall receive, simply because God has pledged his word. We are not to look into our hearts for a joyful emotion as an evidence of our acceptance with Heaven, but we are to take God’s promises, and say, “They are mine. The Lord is letting his Holy Spirit rest upon me. I am receiving the light; for the promise is, ‘Believe that ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.’ By faith I reach within the vail, and lay hold of Christ, my strength. I thank God that I have a Saviour.” 

Are you doing this? Are you taking God at his word, planting your feet on the eternal Rock that cannot be moved? You should daily be making advancement in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. If you have been laboring in your own strength, make a covenant with God that from this time forth you will rely upon Him who is mighty to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him…  May God help us that self may die here. May he help us to humble our souls by repentance and confession until we can come before him clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Say before Heaven, “I have nothing of my own to bring; I want that righteousness that comes through the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour.” How thankful we should be that we have a whole Saviour, that in him is our complete righteousness and salvation!

May the blessing of God rest upon his people as never before. May they come up to their high privilege, and open the door of the heart and let Jesus in to sup with them and they with him.

— Signs of he Times, March 25, 1889 

My heavenly Father, I come before You with a grateful heart that I may be Your child. According to the promises, I ask for Your Holy Spirit to rest upon me. By faith I lay hold on Christ, my strength. I have nothing of my own to bring You, but rely on Christ who is mighty to save. I lay hold of His righteousness and salvation and receive Your light from heaven.  O Lord, may Your blessing rest upon Your people as never before!