Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

— James 4:8,10, MEV 

THE TESTIMONY 

God desires us as a people to stand in a position where we shall honor him; and we can do this only as we humble our hearts before God, bringing ourselves and our families into right relation to him. 

The Lord desires to see both the youth and those older brought into a sacred nearness to himself. Christ is not here in person...but it is the privilege of parents and teachers so to represent Christ in word and character that the light of heaven will shine into the hearts of the youth, and many will be converted to Christ. 

With an eye single to the glory of God, they must work to fashion the characters of their children after the perfect pattern. Who is this pattern?—It is the Son of God. 

The law of the Lord is to be their rule of life, for this law is to be written on the hearts of the youth, or they will never obey the truth of God’s word. All the will must be yielded to God. 

Fathers and mothers, how can I find words to describe your great responsibility! By the character you reveal before your children you are educating them to serve God or to serve self. 

Then offer to heaven your earnest prayers for the aid of the Holy Spirit, that your hearts may be sanctified, and that the course you pursue may honor God and win your children to Christ. 

Parents need the guardianship of God and his Word. If they do not heed the counsels of the Word of God, if they do not make the Bible the man of their counsel, the rule of their life, their children will grow careless and will walk in paths of disobedience and unbelief. 

As in their home life parents strive to be Christlike, heavenly influences will be shed abroad in the lives of their family. 

In every Christian home God should be honored by the morning and evening sacrifices of praise and prayer. Every morning and evening earnest prayers should ascend to God for His blessing and guidance. 

True prayer takes hold upon Omnipotence, and gives men the victory. 

— The Review and Herald, February 1, 1912  

THE RESPONSE 

Pray for the aid of the Holy Spirit that your heart may be sanctified and the course you pursue may honor God and win your children to Christ. 

Heed the counsels of the Word of God, make the Bible the rule of your life. 

Honor God by the morning and evening sacrifices of praise and prayer. 

Every morning and evening earnestly pray to God for His blessing and guidance.