How Important is Prayer in Our Life?

[Sister Marie]

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16.  {OHC 215.1}
    Genuine conversion is needed, not once in years, but daily. This conversion brings man into a new relation with God. Old things, his natural passions and hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, pass away, and he is renewed and sanctified. But this work must be continual; for as long as Satan exists, he will make an effort to carry on his work. He who strives to serve God will encounter a strong undercurrent of wrong. His heart needs to be barricaded by constant watchfulness and prayer, or else the embankment will give way; and like a millstream, the undercurrent of wrong will sweep away the safeguard. No renewed heart can be kept in a condition of sweetness without the daily application of the salt of the Word. Divine grace must be received daily, or no man will stay converted. . . .  {OHC 215.2}

What are the things in life we can do to have the above safeguards in our life?

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With Christian Love,
Sister Glass

[This message has been edited by Sister Glass (edited 02-26-2003).]

[Sister Marie]

We are not opening the door for the Holy Spirit when we do not have a good prayer life. Connection is vital.

To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He went forth to strengthen and bless others. Behold the Son of God bowed in prayer to His Father! Though He is the Son of God, He strengthens His faith by prayer, and by communion with heaven gathers to Himself power to resist evil and to minister to the needs of men. As the Elder Brother of our race He knows the necessities of those who, compassed with infirmity and living in a world of sin and temptation, still desire to serve Him. He knows that the messengers whom He sees fit to send are weak, erring men; but to all who give themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid. His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work--will avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against sin. {AA 56.1

[Richard Myers]

Amen!  We are to pray without ceasing and we are to establish a connection with Christ each day, "I die daily."  

[Dugald T Lewis MD]

The value of this daily conversion cannot be overestimated.

[Sister Marie]

How true brothers. I think of how Jesus prayed "all the time" for His disciples that they may gain what is needed to carry forth for Him after He is gone; that they may change and become one with Christ. Being that Jesus spent this much time in prayer, I shudder when I think that I don't even come close. Teach me (us) Lord "How to Pray"

In these first disciples was presented marked diversity. They were to be the world's teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. In order successfully to carry forward the work to which they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was Christ's object to secure. To this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us;" "that the world may know that Thou has sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." John 17:21, 23. His constant prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the truth; and He prayed with assurance, knowing that an Almighty decree had been given before the world was
21
made. He knew that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to all nations for a witness; He knew that truth armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the battle with evil, and that the bloodstained banner would one day wave triumphantly over His followers. {AA 20.2}

[Sister Marie]

    Ps. 63.…..  Meditation Leads to Love and Fellowship.--Rest yourself wholly in the hands of Jesus. Contemplate His great love, and while you meditate upon His self-denial, His infinite sacrifice made in our behalf in order that we should believe in Him, your heart will be filled with holy joy, calm peace, and indescribable love. As we talk of Jesus, as we call upon Him in prayer, our confidence that He is our personal, loving Saviour will strengthen and His character will appear more and more lovely. . . . We may enjoy rich feasts of love, and as we fully believe that we are His by adoption, we may have a foretaste of heaven. Wait upon the Lord in faith. The Lord draws out the soul in prayer, and gives us to feel His precious love. We have a nearness to Him, and can hold sweet communion with Him. We obtain distinct views of His tenderness and compassion, and our hearts are broken and melted with contemplation of the love that is given to us. We feel indeed an abiding Christ in the soul. We abide in Him, and feel at home with Jesus. The promises flow into the soul. Our peace is like a river, wave after wave of glory rolls into the heart, and indeed we sup with Jesus and He with us. We have a realizing sense of the love of God, and we rest in His love. No language can describe it, it is beyond knowledge. We are one with Christ, our life is hid with Christ in God. We have the assurance that when He who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. With strong confidence, we can call God our Father. …..  {3BC 1147.8}
Ps. 104:34

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With Christian Love,
Sister Marie

[Sister Marie]

   All who become efficient workers must give much time to prayer. The communication between God and the soul must be kept open, that the workers may recognize the voice of their Captain. The Bible should be diligently studied. The truth of God, like gold, is not always lying right on the surface; it is to be obtained only by earnest thought and study. This study will not only store the mind with most valuable knowledge, but will strengthen and expand the mental powers, and it will develop a true estimate of eternal things. Let the divine precepts be brought into the daily life; let the life be fashioned after God's great standard of righteousness, and the whole character will be strengthened and ennobled. {YI, March 3, 1908 par. 14}

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Sister Glass, not to mention the blessing of knowing what God has to say when He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a two way communication with God. Impressions are made upon the mind that reveal the truth of Scripture.

[Sister Marie]

Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
(Whole Chapter: Philippians 1 In context: Philippians 1:8-10)
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Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and, above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. {HP 91.6}

Like the patriarchs of old, those who profess to love God should erect an altar to the Lord wherever they pitch their tent. If ever there was a time when every house should be a house of prayer, it is now. Fathers and mothers should often lift up their hearts to God in humble supplication for themselves and their children. Let the father, as priest of the household, lay upon the altar of God the morning and evening sacrifice, while the wife and children unite in prayer and praise. In such a household, Jesus will love to tarry. {MYP 325.1}
From every Christian home a holy light should shine forth. Love should be revealed in action. It should flow out in all home intercourse, showing itself in thoughtful kindness, in gentle, unselfish courtesy. There are homes where this principle is carried out,--homes where God is worshiped, and truest love reigns. From these homes, morning and evening prayer ascends to God as sweet incense, and His mercies and blessings descend upon the suppliants like the morning dew. {MYP 325.2}

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With Christian Love,
Sister Marie

[Sister Marie]

2 Corinthians 9:14
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
(Whole Chapter: 2 Corinthians 9 In context: 2 Corinthians 9:13-15)

The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day God labors for man's sanctification, and man is to co-operate with Him, putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication. Our Saviour is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones. Gladly He grants them the blessings they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them. {AA 532.2}

If the worker has consecrated himself fully to God and is diligent in prayer for strength and heavenly wisdom, the grace of Christ will be his teacher, and he will overcome great defects and become more and more intelligent in the things of God. …{CE 143.2}

What is it to be a Christian? It is to be Christ-like; it is to do the works of Christ. Some fail on one point, some on another. Some are naturally impatient. Satan understands their weakness, and manages to overcome them again and again. But let none be discouraged by this. Whenever little annoyances and trials arise, ask God in silent prayer to give you strength and grace to bear them patiently. There is a power in silence; do not speak a word until you have sent up your petition to the God of heaven. If you will always do this, you will soon overcome your hasty temper, and you will have a little heaven here to go to heaven in. {HS 157.6}

[Sister Marie]

Our Best Examples

Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:9-11)

Matthew 26:42
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:41-43)

Luke 11:2
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

But it is not always safe to ask for (un?) conditional healing. Let your prayer include this thought, "Lord, Thou knowest every secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted with these persons, for Jesus their advocate gave His life for them. He loved them better than we possibly can. If therefore it is for Thy glory, and the good of these afflicted ones to raise them up to health, we ask in the name of Jesus, that health may be given them at this time." {SpM 6.2}
In a petition of this kind, no lack of faith is manifested. There are cases that are clear, and the Lord works with His divine power in their restoration. The will of God is evidenced too plainly to be misunderstood. The Lord does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth what we are dust. He knoweth our hearts, for He reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning. {SpM 6.3}
Many will be laid away to sleep in Jesus before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world. This is another reason why we should say after our earnest petition, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine, O Lord, be done." Such a petition will never be registered in heaven as a faithless prayer. The Apostle was bidden to write: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." From this we can see that every one is not to be judged as unworthy of eternal life. If Jesus, the world's Redeemer, prayed, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," and then added, "Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt," how very appropriate is it for poor, infinite mortals to make surrender to the wisdom and will of God.

[Sister Marie]

Wait and Watch and Pray

    Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine
heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. Ps. 27:14.  

    Wait on the Lord, and again I say, Wait on the Lord. We may ask of
the human agents and not receive. We may ask of God and He says, Ye
shall
receive. Therefore you know to whom to look; you know in whom to trust.
You must not trust in man or make flesh your arm. Lean as heavily as you
please upon the Mighty One who hath said, "Let him take hold of my
strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with
me." Then wait and watch and pray and work, keeping your face constantly
turned to the Sun of Righteousness.  
    Let the bright beams from the face of Jesus shine into your hearts,
to shine upon others through you. "Ye are the light of the world. . . .
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:14-16). We must
lift
up Jesus before the people. . . .  
    Just as sure as you depend on man to be appreciated and to sustain
you, you will be wholly disappointed. Your encouragement and sustaining
will not come from the very best of men. The Lord has a lesson to teach
you, to depend on Him alone, for He is your Redeemer. You are His
property--His by creation and by redemption. The way of the Lord is to
be
chosen, the will of the Lord is to be your will. . . .  
    The Holy One has given us rules for the guidance of all. These
rules
form the standard from which there can be no departure. The principles
of
holiness have yet to be learned daily, and then the will of God will
become paramount. In God you can stand, in God you can make aggressive
warfare, presenting the truth as it is in Jesus.  
    Do not feel at all ashamed of the heart softening under the movings
of the Holy Spirit. Let Jesus come in as He knocks for entrance and then
appreciate Him, rejoice in heart, encourage a constant gratitude that
while you felt that there was no arm to save, His arm brought salvation,
His love was made apparent to you. Then when in the full joy of that
love
you presented Jesus to others, the Holy Spirit was working through you .
. . to bless others. . . . It is the privilege of everyone who receives
the Spirit of truth to represent the truth in its simplicity, to reach
the hearts of the perplexed, trembling souls who are really bewildered.
.
. . He knows how to apply the balm. . . .  
    Make God your entire trust. Pray, pray, pray, pray in faith. Trust
then the keeping of your soul to God. He will keep that which is
committed to Him against that day. . . . Trust fully, unwaveringly in
God.--Letter 126, 1895.  {RC 119}

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope
in the LORD.  
Psalms 31:24  

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and
the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of
Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Luke 2:25  

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and
spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Luke
2:38  

But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for
[it]. Romans 8:25  

Unswerving faith and unselfish love will overcome the difficulties that
arise in the path of duty to hinder aggressive warfare . . . . .
Remember
that prayer is the source of your strength. A worker cannot gain success
while he hurries through his prayers and rushes away to look after
something that he fears may be neglected or forgotten. He gives only a
few hurried thoughts to God; he does not take time to think, to pray, to
wait upon the Lord for a renewal of physical and spiritual strength. He
soon becomes weary. He does not feel the uplifting, inspiring influence
of God's Spirit. He is not quickened by fresh life. His jaded frame and
tired brain are not soothed by personal contact with Christ.  
    "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen
thine
heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." "It is good that a man should both
hope
and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Psalm 27:14;
Lamentations 3:26. There are those who work all day and far into the
night to do what seems to them must be done. The Lord looks pityingly
upon these weary, heavy-laden burden bearers and says to them: "Come
unto
Me, . . . and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.  {7T 243}

Work in faith, and leave results with God. Pray in faith, and the
mystery
of His providence will bring its answer. At times it may seem that you
cannot succeed. But work and believe, putting into your efforts faith,
hope, and courage. After doing what you can, wait for the Lord,
declaring
His faithfulness, and He will bring His word to pass. Wait, not in
fretful anxiety, but in undaunted faith and unshaken trust.  
    "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His
own
Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things? . . . Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are
more
than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."  {7T 245}

[Sister Marie]

GOD DOES ANSWER PRAYER
Part 1

When in 1946 a newly developed bomb exploded over Bikini, an uninhabited atoll in the South Pacific, it literally atomized one of the islands. Scarcely a trace of it remained, and the world's leading nuclear scientists were quick to proclaim that here, at last, was a hellish exhibition of the mightiest force in the world---the atom bomb!

But in spite of the scientists' belief to the contrary, the atom bomb was not the mightiest force in those days and today’s worst weapons of mass destruction are still not the mightiest force in these days. The mightiest force is prayer, for through prayer the weakness of humanity is linked with that immeasurable Source of power that constantly controls not only this tiny planet but unnumbered worlds that wheel in endless space.

Thus, the awesome presence of prayer even the power of the worst of the worlds weapons of mass destruction shrinks into insignificance. We can be assured that God will impart the power for service to anyone who rightly relates himself to his Maker, for we have the certain promise in His Word, "All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matt. 21:22). Yes, God does answer prayer.

[Sister Marie]

What a holy joy is prayer! What intense soul satisfaction there is in communing with our heavenly Father! To reach beyond the puny confines of earth, to speed our requests and thanks on wings of prayer past the farthest star, and pierce, as it were, the very heavens with our faint voices-- what a marvelous experience is this! "Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite." Steps to Christ, page 97.

[Richard Myers]

A thought for today....

Could it be tha the failure to pray continually is a manifestation of "unbelief"? If we really believed with the whole heart that God is listening and has such great power, why would we neglect to seek it? Not only for ourselves, but for our family and friends....

Happy Sabbath, all!  

[Sister Marie]

Cont...
Unfortunately, many Christians do not take hold of the mighty power God has promised them through the channel of prayer. Too often they follow a powerless routine in their prayer life. Their time is occupied with the hustle and bustle and confusion of today. Their prayers are hurried, conventional, and pointless.

But it is the Christian's privilege to live above this conventional concept of prayer, to rise to a higher plane of communication with God. He must not be content simply to say his daily prayers by rote. To receive power for victory over every sin, he must not only plug in the cord but turn on the switch that will connect him with Heaven's powerhouse.

[Sister Marie]

"The greatest victories...to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God." (PP 203)

Yes, prayer beings victories, for prayer is real fellowship with God. So let perish forever the idea that prayer is something intangible, unreal. The prayer that connects a soul on earth with the God of heaven is as real as the food we eat. And as food nourishes the body, so prayer stengthens the soul.

[Sister Marie]

When a child climbs onto his father's lap and says, "Dad, I love you very much," or "Dad, I need some new shoes," it is a real experience to that child. Communication with our heavenly Father may be just as real as is communication between an earthly father and his child. The pity is that because we do not see God we fail to recognize the closeness and reality of talking to Him. But in order that we may reap the spiritual benefits of this close relationship we must understand what prayer is, and the conditions governing it.

What is prayer? Where may one find more precise definitions of prayer than these from Steps to Christ, by Ellen G. White? "Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend." Page 93. "Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence." Pages 94, 95.
------From "Does God Answer Prayer?"

[Sister Marie]

When you meet your best friend on the street, you run up to him with confidence. Eagerly you open your heart and bubble over, telling him all your latest joys and sorrows. This is a real experience to you. Prayer should ever be just like this--- the confiding of your joys, your hopes, your frustrations, your sorrows, your disappointments to the best Friend of all, Jesus.
The next question is Do you know how to pray? If the answer is No, do not be discouraged, for even Jesus' disciples had to learn how to pray. One day they listened while Jesus talked with His Father, in what to them must have been the most heart-warming, beautiful prayer they had ever heard.
In contrast with the cold, legalistic prayers of the scribes and Pharisees, Christ's humble, reverent petition was personal, warm, friendly. And when He had finished, the disciples much have said something like this to one another: "Wasn't that a wonderful prayer? It sounded as though Jesus was actually talking to His Father, , and that His Father was present in person. I wish we could learn to pray like that!"
And be it to the disciples' credit that they did more than merely wish for this prayer power. After Jesus had finished praying, one of them stepped up to Him and said: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Jesus did not brush this request aside, but gave His disciples a perfect pattern for praying-- the Lord's Prayer, recorded in Matthew 6:9-13. And even as Jesus taught His early disciples to pray, so He will teach the lips of the reluctant, stammering, present-day suppliant how to pray the prayer of power, the prayer that brings answers.

[Sister Marie]

"Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him." Ibid., P. 93. It is thus through the magic of prayer that the Father of all hears firsthand the praise and requests of His children. In His loving kindness God has proveded this marvelous channel of communication between heaven and earth, and boundless are His promised blessings to the one who prays in faith. Mark there in particular:

"What things soever ye deire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). "Ask, and it shall be given you... For every one that asketh receiveth" (Luke 11:9,10).
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13).