PRAYER by Cornelia A. Hilton

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 14, 1868

PRAYER

By Cornelia A. Hilton

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. iv, 6. Dear brethren and sisters, it is by prayer that we shall be prepared for the appearing of our blessed Saviour. The only way to be happy in this world is to cast our cares on God. He will help us if we ask him. He never turns a deaf ear to them that come to him in earnest prayer. There is a friend ever waiting to help us if we will unbosom to him our sorrows; a Friend who pitied the sick and sorrowful when he was upon earth; a Friend who can weep with the mourners, for he was a man of sorrows. That friend is Jesus Christ. Prayer can lighten the cross for us, however heavy. Prayer can let in a ray of hope when all our earthly prospects seem darkened. What is the reason that some believers are so much brighter and holier than others? I believe the difference arises from different habits about private prayer. Look over the lives of the brightest and best of God’s servants, whether in the Bible or out, prayer obtains fresh and continued outpourings of the Spirit, and those who ask most will have most of its influence.

There is a vast difference among Christians. They are all fighting the same fight; but how much more valiantly some fight than others. I can only warn those who do not enter into the work in earnest prayer, but I do warn you most solemnly. We are living in solemn times. Without prayer we are lost. Others may pray for us, but unless we make some effort for ourselves, they cannot save us. Alas, there is a day coming when many shall pray loudly, “Lord, Lord,” but all too late.

Dear brethren and sisters, let us be more earnest in prayer. It is Christ’s office to save sinners. He says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke v, 32. The worse you are the more need you have to apply to him. Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words few, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you. I commend to you the importance of perseverance in prayer. Never think that time is wasted that is given to God. Christ prayed when he was on earth. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” Heb. v, 7. How unlike this are many of our supplications. How truly might God say to many of us, You do not really want what you pray for. Let us try to amend this fault. We ought not to be content with general petitions. We ought to specify our wants before the throne of grace. There is an Advocate, an Intercessor, always waiting to present the prayers of those who come to God through him. He mingles our prayers with the incense of his own intercession. Poor as they are in themselves, they are powerful in the hand of the High Priest. There are exceeding great and precious promises to those who pray. May I never forget to pray.

CORNELIA A. HILTON.