We Will Give Ourselves to Prayer

Pray, yes, pray as you have never prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan’s devices, that you may not be given up to a heedless, careless, vain spirit, and attend to religious duties to quiet your own conscience. It is inappropriate for Christians in any age of the world to be lovers of pleasure, but how much more so now when the scenes of this earth’s history are so soon to close.

Surely the foundation of your hope of everlasting life cannot be laid too sure. The welfare of your soul, and your eternal happiness depend upon whether your foundation is built upon Christ. While others are panting after earthly enjoyments, be ye panting after the unmistakable assurance of the love of God, earnestly, fervently crying, Who will show me how to make my calling and election sure?—Testimonies for the Church 2:144.

The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching, we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy-seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.—Steps to Christ, 94.

With God at Dawn p. 206
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Prayer Requests
—-Please be praying for Maya. They’ve finally got all the paperwork ready for submission to the insurance company for her medical bed. There’s a high chance they will deny, but we have a miracle-working God that can push it through. Prayers for divine favor so Maya can get the bed she needs so she can be safe when she sleeps and to give mom Jenny some peace of mind. Jennifer
—-Please pray that David will get the mental help that he needs. Pray also for his family whom he verbally and emotionally abuses. Buck
—-My only brother was on a tall ladder trimming branches from a tree. He fell yesterday. He was life flighted to _____ Hospital in _____. He had a brain bleed which required brain surgery. He had a big blood clot about 1″ thick in some places. It covered the whole left side of his brain. They drained the blood. They had to do a craniotomy to reach the brain for surgery. He has a broken back at L1 vertebra. And a broken ankle. They are waiting for him to wake up from his sedation. The Lord answers prayer. I am believing for a good report in Jesus name. Thank God for the privilege of prayer. Nancy
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, we went over to some friend’s house for Bible study. During the course of the conversation, I was asked to give my testimony. That brought back many memories of long-ago years. My grandparents had adopted me shortly after I was born to keep me from my alcoholic father and raised me until I was ten. Although they were Adventists, their religion seemed to consist of just going to church. The rest of the week, there was no mention of Heavenly things. I went to Sabbath School occasionally whenever my mother didn’t take me shopping or to a movie.

Just before my tenth birthday, my mother married a man who was an alcoholic and I went to live with them. My grandparents moved to Florida. My life became almost unbearable. After nearly four years, he left in the middle of the night taking everything of value in the house except my mother’s guitar and amplifier. Things went from bad to worse. My mother had to sell her guitar and amp just so we could have food. Our landlord would not wait for the rent until my mother found a job, so we had to find a very cheap apartment over a music store on the corner of Main and Westnedge. Life was very difficult.

Even though we were far from Jesus, He was near to us. I had been taught to pray the “Now I lay me down to sleep….” prayer and as I got older, I added my own words, and had a sort of faith in Him because of the times I had gone to church. He accepted the tiny spark of faith as the best I knew. There were many times that He protected us in that crummy apartment. He helped my mother find work, even though she did not recognize it as a blessing from Him. Finally we were able to move into a one room apartment in a better part of town. Life was still a struggle, and there were many times there was nothing to eat in the apartment except a little flour and some sugar, but through it all, God was there protecting us and longing for the time when we would come to Him. Finally we were able to move a couple of blocks away into a three room apartment. We felt like we were in a mansion. It was in that apartment that I began to have the desire to start going to church and asked God to lead me to the right one. Praise God! He did!

Jesus, speaking of His Heavenly Father said, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45 God loves each person in this world whether they love Him back or not. His Spirit draws them, leading them into circumstances that will give them an opportunity to choose His way. He showers His blessings upon them even though they don’t know the Source of all blessings. He assures us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 How loving and kind He is to us! He not only makes us His sons, but He changes us into His image as we meditate upon His Word. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 1 Cor 3:18 May we allow Him to change us into His likeness is my prayer.

Rose