p. 93 | IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER by C. L. Gregory

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 23, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 12.

IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER.

By C. L. Gregory

True prayer implies dependence, accompanied with a desire to obtain promised blessings. Children sometimes ask their parents with great importunity for things which have never been promised them, but positively forbidden. All true parents will give their children, if possible, all things that will in their opinion benefit them. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He has not probably given his children since the fall Adam all which they have desired, however importunate they may have been. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on your lusts.” James 4:3. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him.” Matt. 7:11.

It is not an earthly potentate who has invited us to approach him in all our degradation that he may bestow on us wealth and honor. If such was the case, we should hasten to his presence. But our Heavenly Father, the Creator, who sits on the throne of the universe, is ready to bestow all needed blessings, on every living son and daughter of Adam who asks for them through the merits of his dear Son.

Every prodigal who returns to his Father’s house is at times filled with inexpressible joy and peace. He says to his companions, “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” And why? Just watch his movements. See, he has gone into a lone closet; he has shut the door, and now in humble supplication is moving the arm which moves the world. Alone, yet not all alone, he pleads that God would have mercy on himself, a companion, child, brother or sister, or perhaps an enemy. He becomes importunate. He says, like Jacob, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” He is now coming out with his face radiant with hope, for he has prevailed.

A few weeks or months have elapsed, and he goes mourning all the day. Look into that lone chamber. It is almost or quite deserted. He has forsaken his beloved, and is saying in the pride of his heart, I can walk alone, I have no need of thee. Consequently he is overcome by enemies for a time, if not forever.

All eminent Christian men and women since the fall have been much in prayer, and thus they have cast a halo of light amid the surrounding darkness. Individuals and churches have spent all night in prayer. If Christ oftimes spent the lonely hours of darkness in a solitary place on the mountains pleading with his Father in behalf of mankind, even for his enemies, how much more ought we who are sinners by nature and practice to wrestle with him until we prevail.

All who once loved God with all the heart and are not now walking with him, first left their closet and tried their own strength. They fell, and oh! what a fall!

“Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Unuttered or expressed.”

And again,

“Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air.”

If we leave our own atmosphere, we must breathe one of pestilence and death.

I think I can see signs through all our ranks of a “coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Some are walking more closely with him, and are earnestly entreating that he would pour his Spirit out on the children of men. It makes me think that the loud cry of the third angel is near. It will come in answer to prayer accompanied with works. Shall I be among the pleading ones?—Will you?

C. L. GREGORY.

Ottawa Co., Mich.