Untitled article by John Byington

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 26, 1867

A WORD OF EXHORTATION.

By John Byington

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. iv, 6.

Great is both the duty and privilege of prayer. It is the language of dependence, and ever since man became a fallen being, and a Saviour was promised, it has been his duty to ask, that he might receive. It is by prayer that ourselves, and not God, become acquainted with our wants.

To be successful in prayer how important that the hindrances are removed. Perhaps there is none greater than the one named in the text: anxious care. Not but that we should give everything pertaining to our work, temporal and spiritual, sufficient thought that duty may be done, and then leave the event with God.

Prayer is ejaculatory, secret and social. Ejaculatory prayer is raising our desires to God when our hands are employed, that he may continually be our help. Secret prayer is having a time and place when we leave the labors of our hands, and go before God where no mortal eye sees us and there ask and hold converse with God, that he may reward us openly. Matt. vi, 6. Social prayer is uniting with our family or the church, two or three, or more, that all may be of one accord and the united prayer of faith prevail with God. Matt. xviii, 19.

We have many examples in the word of God to encourage us to pray. When Israel was engaged in sore conflict with Amalek, Moses’ hands were raised toward Heaven, which was the token of dependence, and when weary, were stayed up by Aaron and Hur; and then Israel prevailed. Ex. xvii, 11. When a decree had gone forth for Daniel to be put into the lions’ den, three times a day he was found praying in his chamber, and the lions’ mouths were shut, and no harm was done to this praying prophet. Dan. vi, 10.

Christ says to Peter, “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” Luke xxii, 32. Therefore though Peter hastily denied his Lord, a look from his Master caused him to repent, and he dies a faithful martyr.

Our Saviour prays, “If it be possible let this cup pass from me. Matt. xxvi, 39. He was relieved from his sufferings in the garden, where he might have died, until he went to the cross where he made a public exhibition of his willingness to suffer for the sins of the world. There was prayer at the house of Mary and the prison gate is opened, Peter’s chains fall off, and he goes free.

And how many witnesses have borne testimony to the utility of prayer every day before engaging in the common duties of life. Then our minds are stayed on God and we trust in him for help, while we engage in that which is lawful and right. And let me say here, that all prayer is offered to God in the name of Christ our great High Priest, who says, “Ask in my name.” How important then that the hindrances to prayer are removed. How many professed Christians awake in the morning and their first thought is, the business of the day. They enter upon it without first going to God in their closets. The hour of family prayer arrives, and it finds them early in the day filled with anxious care, and thus family worship is neglected, or hindered. The hour or day for prayer with the church arrives, and then you hear the excuse, “I was so weary and I had so much to do I could not get to the house of prayer.” Thus they take the matter into their own hands and live as though there was no need of help from God. Brethren, these things ought not so to be. Let us return unto the Lord. If ever, at one time more than another, prayer was important, it is now with Seventh-day Adventists. John Fletcher, when traveling, stopped for refreshment. He heard the landlady mention the name of Methodist. He asked who they were. She said they were a people who prayed to God night and day. He said if there were such a people on earth he would find them. And let me ask one and all, Do you pray in secret? Do you pray with your family, if you have one? Do you do your part to sustain the prayer-meeting? And are you as regular in this work as you are in your daily work? Reader, the above questions are to you.

JOHN BYINGTON.

Leslie, Nov. 11, 1867.