The Week of Prayer by Arthur G. Daniells

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1902

The Week of Prayer

By Arthur G. Daniells

The week of prayer for 1902 has been fixed for December 20–27. All that has ever made the week of prayer an occasion of great importance to this people and to the cause of God, applies to-day with greater emphasis than ever before. All that has been presented in years past to lead this people to devote the holidays to earnest Bible study, humble confession of sin, fervent supplication for divine help, can be presented at this time with new force. The greatest crisis of all time faces the generation now living. To meet this crisis, God has given his people a message to be proclaimed to all the world. This message has come to us, and has found a place in our hearts. We have acknowledged it as having come from heaven, and have taken our stand before the world as a people loyal to the claims of God. We have accepted the great responsibility of becoming depositaries of this truth, and of proclaiming it to the ends of the earth.

This is a great work. It is altogether too vast for man alone to accomplish. Nothing short of divine wisdom and power can carry it through to a glorious consummation. This is why it is appropriate that at least once a year we should set apart a period of time to be devoted wholly to earnest prayer and personal consecration. During this occasion fervent petitions should ascend to God from every believer in present truth for divine wisdom, to know how to lead men and women from the subtle delusions surrounding them, into the glorious light of the gospel of Christ. It is a delicate work to deal with human minds. Left to ourselves in this work, we shall surely fail; but God, who knows the thoughts of all men, knows how to reach the secret depths of the heart, and can teach us how to do this; and for this teaching we ought earnestly to pray. And to encourage us, the Lord says, if any man “lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Furthermore, we must have power for service. Creative power alone can change men’s hearts, and thus lead them to allegiance to God. This power every believer in the third angel’s message must have in order to make his efforts effective. In giving his commission to the church, and explaining that his gospel of salvation must be given to every creature, Jesus emphasized the fact that this work could not be done by human power. He said, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” And on another occasion he said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” This power was to qualify them for effective service. Thus our great Leader recognizes our need of divine power, and gives the fullest assurance that if we seek it, he will give it to us.

Another object for which earnest prayers should ascend to heaven is that consecrated and thoroughly qualified laborers should be sent forth into the harvest field. Jesus says, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” Here we are encouraged to pray for the raising up of earnest, consecrated workers to fill the openings of God’s providence. To-day calls are coming from every direction for ministers, Bible workers, Christian physicians, nurses, teachers, and canvassing evangelists. During the coming week of prayer most earnest and importunate petitions should be made for laborers to go forth into the harvest field.

In view of all these considerations, how gladly we should look forward to a season of special prayer and consecration, and how earnestly and thoroughly should we prepare to make the most of that occasion when we come to it. Let us remember that we shall obtain help during the coming season of devotion just in proportion as we put thought and preparation and prayer into it. The Lord now calls upon every one connected with his work to arise and do his duty, and he will greatly bless every one who will respond to this call.

A. G. DANIELLS.