SPECIAL PRAYER by H. E. S. Hopkins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 11, 1900

SPECIAL PRAYER

By H. E. S. Hopkins

H. E. S. HOPKINS (Fulton, Mich.)

MANY of us have near and dear relatives and friends who were once on the Lord’s side, and believed the truths we profess, but now have lost all interest in these things. It may be that some have never taken a stand on the side of right. We are anxious for their salvation, of course we are; we pray for them, with earnest prayer too, but it does not seem to be answered. We have waited months, and years, and yet we pray and hope that the beloved father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or friend may yield to the strivings of God’s Spirit. The prospect is dark and discouraging sometimes, and we are almost tempted to give them up as hopeless cases.

Did it never occur to you that when we desire special blessings, we must put forth special efforts to secure them? Doubtless we pray at morn, noon, and night every day, and then we remember these cases; but do we ever have special seasons of prayer for our loved ones, calling on others at times to unite with us at a stated hour?

While studying the book of Daniel, an incident therein impressed me forcibly. When Daniel’s life was at stake, he requested his companions to unite with him in seeking God for deliverance. “He could have prayed alone, and doubtless would have been heard; but then, as now, in the union of God’s people there is prevailing power.” “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18: 20.

I remember a young man who was once a devoted Christian; but, being deprived of a mother’s tender watchcare, and thrown, much of the time, under the influence of those who did not have the least interest in divine things, his love grew cold. The father felt very anxious for his only child, and suggested having special seasons of prayer, that he might be saved. He would stop in the midst of his work, enter the house, and we would together earnestly seek the Lord. After a week or two the father was called away; still earnest prayer was offered up, day by day. Sometimes, if tempted to neglect it, a voice seemed to say, “Attend to this matter; make no delay.” Finally, prayer prevailed, the surrender was made, and the son was prepared for the sad accident which caused him to be laid away until the Life-giver comes.

The blessed Lord does not propose to do alone all the work that is to be done for the salvation of souls. He has placed you and me here to perform our part. And when He repeatedly tells us, through His servants, that we have but little time to work, and that what is done must be done quickly, He is desperately in earnest.

If we are as truly anxious for the salvation of our relatives and friends as we ought to be, why should we not also be desperately in earnest to bring it about? The Master stands ready to manifest His power in answer to prayer. He has said: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.” Isa. 44: 3.

Cast away doubt and fear, and every shadow of unbelief, and take God at His word. While others are rejoicing over the conversion of those for whom they have been pleading, we, too, may have the privilege of praising God for His wonderful dealings with our loved ones.