Prayer and Promises

Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. 

 

It is the Lord’s design that the church shall stand as His representative in a revolted world. 

Upon all believers there rests a special work. Each one is to reveal in his life the grace of Christ. The members of each home are to reveal the transformation that has been wrought by this grace. When parents will remember that they are to begin with the church in the home, the true work of reform for which God calls will be carried forward. Let us now decide to be Christians in the home. 

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” When the heart is subdued and transformed by the grace of Christ, the life will reveal the fruits of the Spirit. The battle going on in the soul is watched with intense interest by the heavenly family, and when, through the grace of Christ, the victory is gained, thanksgiving breaks forth among the angels. 

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ…” Here is pointed out the work of church-members. Instead of allowing Satan to lead them to think and speak evil of those who, under trying circumstances, are carrying heavy responsibilities, they are to ask God to give them words to speak to those who know not the truth. 

Let us ask the Lord to open to us a door of utterance, that we may speak the mysteries of Christ. In the place of speaking words of criticism, to the discouragement of souls already weak, let us speak of the love and goodness of God. 

Consecrate the talent of speech to God. Let your faith lay hold of His promises, and break forth in praise and thanksgiving to Him. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Let us maintain towards our brethren and sisters in the church a faithful, God-fearing attitude, that no one way be disheartened by our words. Let us begin the new year by offering praise and thanksgiving to God, with the determination, through His grace, to consecrate the talent of speech to His service. The love of God in the hearts of the members of the church will give them joy and peace and gladness, enabling them to live lives that will cause rejoicing among the angels of God. 

Heavenly Father, transform my heart by Your grace. Let my life reveal the grace of Christ in both my home and church. Forgive me for thinking and speaking evil of others. I consecrate my talent of speech to Your service. I lay hold of Your promise and ask You to season my words with grace.  Open up a door that I may speak of the love and goodness of Christ to those who know not the truth.