Prayer and Promises

The Promise 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

— Colossians 3:16, ESV 

The Testimony 

Let all co-operate with the heavenly intelligences in communicating truth to others. What though it be in weakness? It is Christ that speaks to the heart; it is he that creates an interest where there has been no desire to hear…  When the human agent puts himself in living connection with God, the Holy Spirit will work in him “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Let the worker present the truth in faith, believing in Jesus as his only efficiency. Let him reverently, devoutly, earnestly, and prayerfully grasp God’s promise, and press his petitions before the throne of grace. As he feels a sense of his helplessness and weakness, “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” The Holy Spirit will cause the word spoken to act as a two edged sword; and the hearers will see that the messenger is presenting the truth as a reality. They will realize that he knows what practical, experimental religion is. If the worker has been in the audience chamber of the Most High, if he has reverently, trustfully, opened his heart to God, that he might work through him, the people will not fail to be impressed with his teaching. When the worker depends wholly upon the higher Power, the God who seeth in secret will hear the supplication of the hungering soul, and will supply his grace richly. When we yoke up with Christ, we may leave the whole weight of the load upon Jesus, moving forward with a living faith, knowing that he will not fail nor be discouraged. When this method is followed, the laborer, through the grace of Christ, will bear such a testimony that the people will be brought into communication with him who has said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” They will be led to say, “This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” O let the messengers of God cry aloud for the Holy Comforter; let the weary and heavy laden, the doubting soul, believe, only believe, that God is a present help in every time of need. 

— The Review and Herald, June 11, 1895 

The Response 

Dear Lord, may the words of Christ dwell in me richly that I may share my faith. But I am weak and helpless on my own, I come before the throne of grace and grasp Your promise to take hold of Your strength. It is You who creates the interest, help me to cooperate with You as I communicate truth to others. Let Your Holy Spirit be with the words I speak and cause the hearers to see the reality of Your truth. You are my only efficiency and I put myself in living connection with You!