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Showers of Blessing

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 8, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 49.

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“Showers of Blessing”

By John G. Walker

No one can afford to slight this opportunity for prayer, even though it calls for a sacrifice, as the time for God to favor Zion has come, “yea, the set time is come.” Souls are to be sought for, prayed for, labored for. Earnest appeals are to be made. Fervent prayers are to be offered. God’s Word declares, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Besides the personal benefit to be derived, God designs that this season of prayer shall result in “the sealing of his people into a bond of unity that can not be broken. Pressing together in love and unity, and encouraging one another to advance, we are to gain strength and courage for the assistance of others.” The united prayers of God’s people are to bring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at some time before the end of probation. Why not at this season? Shall we be less earnest than the apostles, whose earnest prayers brought to them the “riches of the Spirit’s power”? They grasped the imparted gift, and “the sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power, and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief,” so that thousands were converted in a day. The same scenes are to be enacted again.
We appeal to every family, Make an earnest effort to be present at the meetings of this week of prayer. Parents, invite your children to attend. Children, be willing to divide the time with father and mother if duties at home demand constantly the attention of some of the household. Upon the church elders we urge, Look up the record of last year, and enlist the interest of your brethren in doubling the annual offering to the glorious cause of missions. To the brethren and sisters we write, Look not upon this call as one to be lightly regarded, but as an agonized and almost despairing cry from the millions of earth’s sin-bound slaves.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
JOHN G. WALKER, of North Dakota.