p. 303 | PRAYER by Almond D. Farrar

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 14, 1867

PRAYER.

By Almond D. Farrar

How dark and dreary indeed would be this world, were it not for that consolation of the Christian—prayer. We have a real, tangible God to whom to offer up our petitions, one whom we can trust, one whom we know hears our cries feeble though they be. We have felt his presence and power in many ways. He testifies of his presence in answers of sweet peace to the waiting soul. Infidels and Spiritualists may talk in their bombastic style of our worshiping a God who has all the attributes of personality. We do not worship a nonentity. We believe in God. There are some things God has not seen fit to reveal to us. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things that are revealed belong unto us, and to our children. Deut. xxix, 29. Prayer is one of the things revealed, and required of us. Even the heavens declare the glory of God; Ps. xix, 1; and shall not we praise him, and call upon him in prayer and thanksgiving?

I know that in all the varied conditions and events of life, there is a divine providence and watch-care over us. I would as soon believe that my life was all a vapor, a myth, a dream, as to believe there was not a God besides a God of nature. We can see his stately steppings in the inspirations of the prophets. The history of the world is foretold centuries before it transpires. Prophecies are fulfilling under our very eyes. The Bible has been proved to be from Heaven, written by the inspiration of God; and all the machinations of infidels, skeptics, geologists, and pretended revelations of spirits in the form of Modern Spiritualism combined, cannot overthrow it.

In the light of these facts we can worship God intelligently. We can come to him as a child comes to an earthly parent, knowing that he will not turn us away empty. When weighed down by the cares and perplexities of life, we can come to Jesus, and open our hearts to him; and he will hear us in answers of peace and consolation. Though all our earthly friends forsake us we can come to Jesus. He will be our friend. He has said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. xi, 28. But the way we come to him, is through prayer and faith as the Saviour of the world. He also says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. xiii, 5. And he never will. Since the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, his promises have been faithfully fulfilled. I will never leave thee. Sublime promise! Is not that enough to instill into our hearts fresh courage? Oh! yes, Jesus will not leave us until we have forsaken him; and even then he calls after us saying, Return unto me.

I will pray unto him continually, when I rise up, and when I sit down. When I wake my thoughts shall be of him, when I sleep, my dreams shall be of him.

How sweet and refreshing to the mind is prayer! There is no balm so potent to soothe the troubled soul. It drives out the darkness of Satan, and lets in the sunlight of Heaven. It is through prayer we obtain the blessings God has in store for us. “Ask and ye shall receive.” Jno. xvi, 24. “Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt. vii, 7. Such are the assurances of our divine Lord and Master. Oh! let us knock earnestly at the door of prayer and ask largely for the blessings we stand in need of. Jesus stands yet pleading in the heavenly sanctuary. It is not yet too late. Let us work while the day lasts; for soon the night cometh when no man can work. God's people must be a praying people. We must come up through great trials and tribulations, having our robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Then shall we be saved in his peaceful kingdom.

ALMOND D. FARRAR.

Green Lake Co., Wis.