Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

— 1 Peter 3:8,9, NIV 

THE TESTIMONY 

Seek to cherish compassion for one another, to love as brethren, instead of rendering evil for evil and railing for railing. 

Evilspeaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. How miserable is the talebearer, the surmiser of evil! He is a stranger to true happiness. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Grace and peace rest upon those who refuse to join in the strife of tongues... The time that is so often worse than wasted in idle, frivolous, and malicious gossip should be given to higher and nobler objects. If our brethren and sisters would become missionaries for God, visiting the sick and afflicted, and laboring patiently and kindly for the erring,—in short, if they would copy the Pattern,—the church would have prosperity. 

The sin of evilspeaking begins with the cherishing of evil thoughts... If we would not commit sin, we must shun its very beginnings. Every emotion and desire must be held in subjection to reason and conscience. Every unholy thought must be instantly repelled. To your closet, followers of Christ. Pray in faith and with all the heart. Satan is watching to ensnare your feet. You must have help from above if you would escape his devices. 

“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” Cry unto the Lord, tempted soul. Cast yourself, helpless, unworthy, upon Jesus, and claim His very promise. The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation. 

Have you fallen into sin? Then without delay seek God for mercy and pardon. When David was convicted of his sin, he poured out his soul in penitence and humiliation before God. He felt that he could endure the loss of his crown, but he could not be deprived of the favor of God. Mercy is still extended to the sinner. The Lord is calling to us in all our wanderings: “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” The blessing of God may be ours if we will heed the pleading voice of His Spirit. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” 

— Testimonies for the Church Volume 5, p.176,177 

THE RESPONSE 

Become missionaries for God, visit the sick and afflicted, and labor patiently and kindly for the erring,—in short, copy the Pattern. 

Hold your emotions in subjection to reason and conscience. Repel every unholy thought by going to your closet and praying in faith and with all your heart.

Cry to the Lord, cast yourself on Jesus and claim His promises. The Lord knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart and He will help you every time.