With a Prayerful Spirit

Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s Word is [that] they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness.

The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be understood, or prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension. It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend God’s Word that we shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished by its warnings, or animated and strengthened by its promises. We should make the psalmist’s petition our own: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Temptations often appear irresistible because, through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember God’s promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons. But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of great necessity they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are needed. Thus “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Jesus promised His disciples: “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). But the teachings of Christ must previously have been stored in the mind in order for the Spirit of God to bring them to our remembrance in the time of peril. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart,” said David, “that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).—The Great Controversy, 599, 600.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 112
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray hard for E and her children that God will work mightily in their behalf. R
—-Please pray that Ainsley can get in to see the neurologist before July. Annie
—-Please pray for Harold who is in the hospital. Angie
—-I must ask for prayers for my daughter. She is in the final stages of Hodgkins Lymphoma. Please pray for her children and family. James
—-Please continue to pray for Linda who is in rehab with a stroke and her Billy her husband as they are both very discouraged.
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Dear Friends,
The weather this past weekend was perfect for camping, but we did not camp. The temperature was ideal and it was nice and sunny, but we could enjoy it only briefly. Ron and I wished that he had had the camper ready for we would have grabbed a few necessities and found a quiet spot to enjoy God’s great creation. He had been intending on getting it de-winterized long before this but has been working such long hours that it was just not possible. Because it was not ready, we had to content ourselves by taking a drive at a local lake.
How easy it is to get so busy that we put off the most important preparation there is—-being ready for Jesus to come. He warns us, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt 24:42-51
Sadly, the vast majority will not be ready for that grand and glorious day. They put off the needed preparation until it was too late to prepare. With terror and unbelievable sorrow, they will exclaim, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 May we remember that “the end of all things is at hand, be therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7 May we make the needed preparation before it is too late, is my prayer.
Rose