Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

— Psalm 51:3,12,, NKJV]\

THE TESTIMONY 

When Christ was upon earth, the people did not believe in him; they rejected the Lord of glory, condemned and crucified him. 

But the heavenly Vine had its roots on the other side of the wall; death could not hold him. He arose from the grave, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, the majesty on high, where he can direct the heavenly intelligences, bidding them come to the help of every repenting soul. 

With the confession of the repenting, believing sinner, he mingles his own righteousness, that the prayer of fallen man may go up as fragrant incense before the Father, and the grace of God is imparted to the believing soul. 

It is your Master who saith, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus does not say, “Perhaps I will give you rest.” Then why do you act that perhaps? Why not say, “Lord, here I come, sinful and polluted. Thou hast promised to give me rest”? 

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...” Satan will tell you that you are a sinner, that there is no need of your praying and repenting after committing such a sin as you have committed; but you can tell Satan that it is because you are a sinner that you need a Saviour. 

You may go to the Lord, and say, “Forgive my sin. I put my hand to thy hand for help, and I must have thy forgiveness or perish. Let the Sun of righteousness shine into the chambers of my mind and heart, that I may teach transgressors thy ways, and that sinners may be converted unto thee.” 

— The Review and Herald, October 11, 1892 

THE RESPONSE 

Repent believing that your prayer goes up as fragrant incense before the Father. 

Say, “Lord, here I come sinful and polluted. You have promised to give me rest.” 

Go to the Lord and say, “Forgive my sin. I put my hand to Your hand for help. I must have Your forgiveness or perish. Let the Sun of righteousness shine into the chambers of my mind and heart that I may teach transgressors Your ways, and that sinners may be converted to You.”