The Power of Prayer by A. C. ANDERSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1916

The Power of Prayer

By A. C. ANDERSON

A. C. ANDERSON

“THE whole world lieth in wickedness;” but we must convince the world it is a fact that we are connected with the God of all power. Every one must obtain an experience for himself; each must act well and faithfully his part in the battle of life, that God in his own time and in his own way may weave these webs of human life to his own name’s honor and glory and to our good.

Paul said, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” This is an unspeakable consolation and encouragement to the friends of God: “Ye are my friends,” said Jesus, “if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Friends have close association with one another. Prayer is the mighty link that binds us to God.

Austin Phelps once said that prayer is “a power as distinct, as real, as natural, and as uniform as the power of gravitation, or of light, or of electricity.” There is no limit to the power of prayer combined with faith. Faith is a glorious reality, and mightily efficacious, when combined with prayer. It works wonders, and produces effects which nothing else can. It is as essential with regard to things unseen as the eye is to things seen.

Paul, in speaking of the scarred veterans, said that time would fail him “to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.” Heb. 11: 32, 33. By prayer they linked themselves to heaven.

Prayer will link us to God, the Source of all power; but “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The man who believes this will also be pure, sweet, lovely, and holy, not easily provoked or irritated. He will also have forbearance under injuries. It is written, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.”

Pearce once stated that the one who prays has also a physical advantage: “Prayer calms the mind, quiets the fears, subdues the passions, conquers habits, mollifies feelings, and is a general tonic for health and happiness. True prayer is self-discovery that the body is more than flesh and muscle, bone and blood; that it is something higher than to be pampered by appetite and animal cravings. It is the temple, God-planned and God-made, with a holy of holies in which the Spirit is expected to dwell. 1 Cor. 6: 19.

“Too many have made, and still make, the body a veritable temple of Diana—a kind of jungle in which passions like wild beasts and serpents lurk. But he who believes in a pure God, a holy God, a sinless God, and that he who is ‘pure in heart . . . shall see God’ (Matt. 5: 8), will purify himself, as John said, even as God is pure (1 John 3: 2, 3). He that does not, does not pray. Prayer and impurity are incompatible. The beauty of prayer is that it reacts on the body, cleansing, purifying, and keeping it fit for the Master’s use.”

Paul said, “My God shall supply all your need.” We do not always understand this promise, because we want our need supplied in our own way. Neither do the young eaglets understand why the parent bird, which has cared for and fed them so many weeks, destroys their nest, and they themselves are tossed out over the dark precipice. But before they touch the dangerous crags below, the mother bird sweeps down, catches them on her back, and bears them to a place of safety. Then they understand that she still loves and cares for them, but that they themselves must learn to fly. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead,” and still leads, his people. Deut. 32: 11, 12.

Some one has to be tossed out of the nest first, but all must learn the lesson of trusting alone in God. If we ever stand in the day of trouble before us, we must now learn the lesson of confiding and trusting in him. His children must be thrown out upon their own resources, not that he would leave them, but that they may receive help in time of need. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

Friend and foe will betray us, but we must pray for them. Prayer will give us a forgiving heart. Abel, the first martyr, whom Cain slew, was a praying man: “and wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” Stephen, the first Christian martyr, prayed for the wicked mob who hated him. With his last breath he cried, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Jesus was abused, and even spit upon, yet in his dying moments he prayed for his enemies, “Father, forgive them,” and he himself has said, If ye will not forgive, neither will I forgive you.

“Fervent and effectual prayer will be regarded in heaven. When the servants of Christ take the shield of faith for their defense and the sword of the Spirit for war, there is danger in the enemy’s camp, and something must be done. Persecution and reproach only wait for those who are endowed with power from on high to call them into action. When the truth in its simplicity and strength prevails among believers, and is brought to bear against the spirit of the world, it will be evident that there is no concord between Christ and Belial.”—“Testimonies for the Church, Vol. I, pp. 407, 408.

*“Why doubt him now if it may be A cloud is passing by? ’Tis there we see his sweetest smiles Where deep the shadows lie.”*

Wichita, Kans.