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Prayer

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 24, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 15.

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Prayer.

By JOS. CLARKE

It is said of Elijah that “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17, 18.
The word of God is rich in its promises to those who in the exercise of living faith approach God in humble prayer. The most hardened sinner when in his extremity of want and woe comes to God for relief finds his heart made tender and pure by this approach to the Majesty on high. And the most devoted Christian is wholly dependent upon this means of access to God to aid him in all the exercises of faith and love and labor which, without prayer, would be barren and useless, insipid, lifeless, and unmeaning.
To pray to God often, in faith, and unceasingly, is a duty, a command; but who would imagine that such a command would be necessary when for the asking, we may have the greatest blessings? This is truly a great favor; and prayer is a privilege and a pleasure when rightly offered and persevered in, with corresponding works.
Every day we find answers to prayer; and such answers should be most thankfully acknowledged. We should not more anxiously seek for favors than we should thankfully receive them and recognize the gift; for it would be stupid indeed to be continually asking and receiving and never recognizing the liberal giver in the many gifts received.
In all the busy walks of life, from the most humble to the most exalted, let prayer attend us. Let us pray without ceasing. JOS. CLARKE.