How Shall We Observe the Week of Prayer?
By R. A. Underwood
DECEMBER 9-16 has been set apart by the General Conference to be observed by all our people as a special season of prayer and consecration. Anciently God called his people at special seasons to seek him earnestly by self-examination and prayer. The day of atonement was an occasion of this character. All who failed to humbly seek the Lord by confession of sin on these occasions were cut off from among the people. We are living in the antitypical day of atonement, or the investigative judgment. We are admonished of the Lord, “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:3. The Lord says of this people, “They that escape . . . shall every one be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.” Eze. 7:16. Shall these days of prayer be so improved as to mark signal victories in the lives of all our people? Many can not say with assurance, “It is well with my soul.” Christ’s invitation to such is, “Come unto me, . . . and I will give you rest.” Trifling things should not hinder us from assembling each day at the place appointed for prayer. God has blessed us with a bountiful harvest of temporal things. These will all perish, but we must have enduring riches. Our sins must be covered. We must have power to witness for God. Our children and families must go with us to the kingdom. Our thank-offerings should be in keeping with the blessings and mercies of our God toward us. “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” “Bring an offering, and come into his courts.” Let all the people say Amen.