Prayer and Promises

It is the Lord’s design that the church shall stand as His representative in a revolted world... Upon all believers there rests a special work. Each one is to reveal in his life the grace of Christ. 

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ...” Here is pointed out the work of church-members. Instead of allowing Satan to lead them to think and speak evil of those who, under trying circumstances, are carrying heavy responsibilities, they are to ask God to give them words to speak to those who know not the truth. There has been much evil-thinking and evil-speaking among us as a people, to the great detriment of home religion and of the work of the church in the world. Let us be determined to work out the plan of God. This will help us to guard against the contagion of evil-speaking. Seeds of evil, scattered in the mind, quickly spring up, and the plants strike their roots down deep, and bear an abundant harvest. 

Let us ask the Lord to open to us a door of utterance, that we may speak the mysteries of Christ. In the place of speaking words of criticism, to the discouragement of souls already weak, let us speak of the love and goodness of God. “Walk in wisdom toward them which are without, redeeming the time.” Consecrate the talent of speech to God. Let your faith lay hold of His promises, and break forth in praise and thanksgiving to Him. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Let us maintain towards our brethren and sisters in the church a faithful, God-fearing attitude, that no one may be disheartened by our words.

The love of God in the hearts of the members of the church will give them joy and peace and gladness, enabling them to live lives that will cause rejoicing among the angels of God. 

— Pacific Union Recorder, December 15, 1904