A Prayer by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 22, 1906

A Prayer

By Editor

Editorial

A Prayer

JEHOVAH, thou hast been favorable unto thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not quicken us again, That thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, And grant us thy salvation.

A Concert of Prayer

THE annual call has been made for the week of prayer. Again this people will unite their prayers in behalf of the interests of the work of God in the earth and for the hastening of the coming of his kingdom. In the closet, the home, and the church the united voice of praise and supplication will be heard. Such a concert of prayer will quicken the spiritual life of those who heartily engage in it, and will bring blessing upon the work and the workers. What a sight to make angels rejoice — sixty thousand believers in this closing message as suppliants at the throne of grace with the common purpose of hastening the progress of the work of preparation for the coming of their Lord! What an inspiration to the workers in the field, and especially to those at the front, to know that so many hearts are waiting upon God in their behalf! What blessing will come upon those who can not go, but who, “helping together by prayer,” share the burdens of those who have the privilege of lifting the banner in new territory! Prayer unites the workers on earth with the workers in heaven. Prayer opens the channel for the inflow of the Holy Spirit. Prayer makes the weak strong. Prayer turns threatened defeat into glorious success, and snatches victory from an exulting foe. “Blessed assurance that God is a Father who hears the prayers of his children, who gives because they ask. Blessed condescension of the Eternal, that he will live with us, the children of time, and answer us day by day. . . . Prayer is as much a power or cause as any other law which God has established in nature or history.” Let the week of prayer be a further illustration of this fact to all this people.

Prayer and Praise

SPECIAL seasons of prayer are most valuable occasions, but they can not take the place of daily and constant communion with God. “If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of his care for us, we should keep him ever in our thoughts, and should delight to talk of him and to praise him. . . . The rich gifts he has bestowed upon us were not intended to absorb our thoughts and love so much that we should have nothing to give to God; they are constantly to remind us of him, and to bind us in bonds of love and gratitude to our heavenly Benefactor. We dwell too near the lowlands of earth. Let us raise our eyes to the open door of the sanctuary above, where the light of the glory of God shines in the face of Christ, who ‘is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.’ We need to praise God more ‘for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.’ Our devotional exercises should not consist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants, and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise him for what he has done for us. . . . God would not have his children, for whom so great salvation has been provided, act as if he were a hard, exacting taskmaster. He is their best friend; and when they worship him, he expects to be with them, to bless and comfort them, filling their hearts with joy and love. The Lord desires his children to take comfort in his service, and to find more pleasure than hardship in his work. He desires that those who come to worship him shall carry away with them precious thoughts of his care and love, that they may be cheered in all the employments of daily life, that they may have grace to deal honestly and faithfully in all things. . . . God is worshiped with song and music in the courts above, and as we express our gratitude, we are approximating to the worship of the heavenly hosts.” In this appointed season of prayer let us mingle praise with our petitions.