Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word. Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders.

— Psalm 119:28, 27, HCSB 

THE TESTIMONY 

He who calls upon the Lord in humble, fervent prayer will receive the strength and grace which he needs to battle with temptation and to endure trials. In coming to God, the petitioner must present Christ as his authority, Christ’s merit as his plea; and the pledged word of God is given that when these conditions are fulfilled, heaven is open unto the cries of the penitent and humble soul. 

Satan ever seeks to prevent men from praying, by filling up their time with business or pleasure, or by leading them into such wickedness that they will have no desire to pray. The Lord Jesus has made heaven accessible to all who will come unto him... As a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would have you ask him for the things which you need. If your sins are heavy upon your heart, you are to come to God and say, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.” Every sincere prayer will be heard in heaven, and every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered. 

In humble faith you may claim his promises, and feel that although you have nothing in yourself whereby you may claim the favor of God, because of the merits and righteousness of Christ, you may come boldly to the throne of grace, and find help in time of need. There is nothing that can make the soul so strong to resist the temptations of Satan in the great conflict of life, as to seek God is humility laying before him your soul in all its helplessness expecting that he will be your helper and your defender. 

Ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything. Lay open before him the secrets of your heart... When you have asked for the things that are necessary for your soul’s good, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. Accept his gifts with your whole heart; for Jesus has died that you might have the precious things of heaven as your own, and at last find a home with the heavenly angels in the kingdom of God. 

— The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1892 

THE RESPONSE 

Humbly come before God presenting Christ as your authority and the pledged word of God. 

If your sins are heavy on your heart, come to God and sincerely pray, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.”  Ask and receive His grace and strength. 

Claim His promises in humble faith even though you may feel you have nothing in yourself to claim the favor of God.

In humility lay your soul before God in all its helplessness. Ask God to do for you those things that you cannot do for yourselves. Tell Jesus everything.