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Laboring in Prayer

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 5, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 1.

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Laboring in Prayer

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN
God looks not on the outward appearance. He looks upon the heart. Among men, he is counted as the most valued laborer who can make the most brilliant speech, and sway an audience by his powerful words. No doubt these are great gifts, and can be used by the Masterworkman to good advantage when fully consecrated to him.
The Lord also regards as very precious other ways of laboring not always appreciated by men. Paul, the great missionary, associated with himself men who knew how to pray. He counted as valuable help that brother who knew the secret of pleading with God until the evidence was obtained that Heaven heard, and the answer was coming.
Such a laborer he found in Epaphras. Speaking of him, in writing to the Colossians, he says: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Col. 4: 12.
What a beautiful testimony! He was an earnest laborer for others in prayer. After all, we judge one another not so much by what is said, but by the connection maintained with Heaven in prayer.
No one is shut out from this kind of labor. The aged pilgrim, too feeble to brave the storms any more, can go into his closet, and there on his knees carry on the same work Moses did on the mountain, when Aaron and Hur supported his hands toward heaven, while the victorious armies of Israel, led by Joshua, were fighting the battles of the Lord on the plains below.
Many are the victories through prayer. By the prayer of Elijah the heavens were restrained from giving rain for three and one-half years, and again they gave rain abundantly in answer to prayer.
Near the close of Israel’s captivity, in answer to the prayer of Daniel, God sent a leader to bring his people back to their beloved land and city.
It was the night of wrestling in prayer that brought to the overcomer Jacob thename of Israel. Interesting are the many instances where God wrought real enterprises resulting to the Lord’s cause through the labors of men of God upon their knees in prayer.
The Saviour of men spent much time thus. His victories were achieved on the mountainside alone with his Father. Thus was his soul strengthened and his followers kept. To Peter he once said: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”
“Lord, teach us to pray,” might be an appropriate prayer for us now, even as it was for the disciples of old.