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 

While preparing for the meeting each individual should closely and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray with and for one another. Humble yourselves before God, and make an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all rubbish—all envyings, all jealousies, all suspicions, all faultfindings. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” 

Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things will enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions. Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you. Make a covenant with God to yield yourselves and all your powers to His service. Do not carry this undone work to the camp meeting. 

Let deep heart searching commence at home. Pray three times a day, and, like Jacob, be importunate. At home is the place to find Jesus; then take Him with you to the meeting, and how precious will be the hours you spend there. But how can you expect to feel the presence of the Lord and see His power displayed when the individual work of preparation for that time is neglected? 

Pray as you are not accustomed to pray. Let the heart break before God. Set your house in order... By so doing you will invite the Lord’s presence into your homes, and holy angels will attend you as you go up to the meeting, and their light and presence will press back the darkness of evil angels. Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere as they enter the encampment... It will be to your soul even as the gate of heaven. 

— Testimonies for the Church Volume 5, p.163,164

THE RESPONSE 

Prepare for the meeting by closely and critically examining your heart before God. Confess your faults to one another and pray with and for one another.

Humble yourself before God and make an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all the rubbish and faultfindings. 

Make a covenant with God to yield yourself and all your powers to His service.

Pray three times a day at home letting the heart break before God. Invite the Lord’s presence into your home and to the meeting.