Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 

— John 12:46, NKJV 

THE TESTIMONY

Coming to Christ does not require severe mental effort and agony; it is simply accepting the terms of salvation that God has made plain in his Word. The blessing is free to all. 

Then come, and seek and find. The reservoir of power is open, is full and free. Come with humble hearts, not thinking that you must do some good thing to merit the favour of God, or that you must make yourself better before you can come to Christ. You are powerless to do good, and cannot better your condition. Apart from Christ, we have no merit, nor righteousness. Our sinfulness, our weakness, our human imperfections, make it impossible that we should appear before God unless we are clothed in Christ’s spotless righteousness. We are to be found in Him, not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness which is in Christ. Then in the name that is above every name, the only name given among men whereby we can be saved, claim the promise of God, saying, “Lord, forgive my sin. I put my hand in thy hand for help, and I must have it or perish, I now believe.” The Savior says to the repenting sinner, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me, and him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.” 

Nothing but divine power can regenerate the human heart and imbue the soul with the love of Christ… When a man is converted to God, a new moral taste is supplied, a new motive power is given, and he loves the things that God loves; for his life is bound up by the golden chain of immutable promises with the life of Jesus. 

We should grow daily in spiritual loveliness. We shall often fail in our efforts to copy the divine pattern; we shall often have to bow down to weep at the feet of Jesus, because of our short-comings and mistakes; but we must not be discouraged; pray more fervently, believe more fully, and then, with greater steadfastness, abide in Christ and grow into the likeness of our Lord. As we distrust our own power, we shall trust the power of our Redeemer, and render praise to God, who is the health of our countenance. 

— Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, April 15, 1893 

THE RESPONSE

My Father in heaven, I praise You for the blessing of Your dear Son. I humbly come before You seeking to be clothed with the robe of Christ’s spotless righteousness, for apart from You I cannot better myself. In the name of Jesus I ask, “Lord, forgive my sin. I put my hand in Your hand for help, I must have it or perish. I do believe.” I believe You will not cast me aside and put my trust in the power of my Redeemer!