Prayer and Promises

But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. — Isaiah 64:8, BSB 

It is not for the human clay to find fault with the molding process of the potter, but to submit to be molded in any way. Every soul must submit to the Lord before he can be made a vessel unto honor, to be filled with the renewing, sanctifying grace of Christ. 

When the prayer is sincerely offered, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” the voice of the Lord answers, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.” The renewed heart will have no plants of selfishness to cultivate. 

By exercising the ability which God has given, they are to be daily learning, and daily receiving spiritual fervor and power, which have been provided for every true believer. If we would be growing plants in the Lord’s garden, we must have a constant supply of spiritual life and earnestness. Growth will then be seen in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Lord works in his own way, and according to his own devising. Let men pray that they may be divested of self, and may be in harmony with heaven. Let them pray, “Not my will, but thine, O God, be done.” Let men bear in mind that God’s ways are not their ways, nor his thoughts their thoughts; for he says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

Christ says, “Every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth.” He who truly seeks for the precious grace of Christ, will be sure not to be disappointed. This promise has been given to us by Him who will not deceive us. It is not stated as a maxim or a theory, but as a fact, as a law of the divine government. We can be assured that we shall receive the Holy Spirit if we individually try the experiment of testing God’s word. 

O that all would hunger and thirst after righteousness, that they might be filled! 

— The Review and Herald, May 5, 1896 

O Lord, You are my Father and I submit to Your molding process to be made into a vessel of honor. May Your will to be done in my life. Your ways are higher than my ways and I seek to live in harmony with heaven. I ask in faith for Your Holy Spirit to create in me a clean heart. Fill me with the renewing, sanctifying grace of Christ!