Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! 

— Psalm 27:8,14, NKJV

THE TESTIMONY

We are to take time to pray, and then we are to live lives that are in harmony with our prayers, believing that the Lord will answer us. The answer may not come in just the way that we expect, but we may rest assured that the Master knows what is best for us. He is too wise to err, and too good to do us harm. We are to meet every trial and disappointment with the words, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” 

Let us place ourselves in the line of co-operation with God, making it possible for Him to answer our prayers... He says that He will be found of those who seek Him with the whole heart. When you lose your hold on Him, and fail of receiving the fulfillment of the promise, the bank of heaven has not failed; you have broken your covenant with God. He can not fulfill His promises while you refuse to let Him take away your transgressions, because you suppose that by disobeying Him, you have placed yourself beyond help. The Lord says, “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” Then cease to worry over the troubles that you so often bring upon your selves; come like a penitent child to Jesus, confessing your sins. 

We need to pray often: “Lord, increase my faith, that I may be strong to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Make me more than a conqueror through Him that loved me and gave Himself for me.” The Holy Spirit, earnestly sought and constantly cherished, works in the hearts of those who believe, giving them power to become the sons of God. 

God assures us that He will not leave us to grope in uncertainty. He will not leave us to be our own teachers in the all-important matters that concern our eternal destiny. He declares: “I will be your Teacher. I will give you light and knowledge. 

His infinite love and compassion never weary... We need have no fear that He will not fulfill His promises. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant that He has made with those who love Him. 

— The Signs of the Times, March 16, 1904

THE RESPONSE

Take time to pray believing that the Lord will answer you. Meet every trial and disappointment with the words, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” 

Co-operate with God and seek Him with the whole heart. Take hold of His strength. Come like a penitent child to Jesus, confessing your sins. 

Pray often: “Lord, increase my faith that I may be strong to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Make me more than a conqueror through Him that loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Earnestly seek and constantly cherish the Holy Spirit to work in your heart giving you power to become the child of God.