Why Appoint a Week of Prayer?
By Arthur G. Daniells
THE week from Sabbath, December 10, to Sabbath, December 17, has been appointed by the General Conference Committee to be observed by Seventh-day Adventists as a week of prayer. A reading has been prepared for each day of that week, and as far as possible our people will meet together daily in the churches and in little companies to hear the reading for the day and to engage in prayer. Now to the question heading this article—Why appoint a week of prayer? Is it done merely as an official act to perpetuate a custom? Is it to provide a “form” to be observed at the close of the year to take the place of the prayer and devotion that should have been a part of the life all through the year? Or is it because there is at this present time a good reason why we should devote a week to earnest prayer and devotion? For one, I wish to say that never before in my experience in this cause have I seen the great, pressing need of this whole denomination’s giving itself to earnest, importunate prayer as I see it now. I do feel that if ever the church of God has been called to its knees, it is at this present time. Brethren, this arrangement for a week of prayer is not dry formalism. It is not merely to keep the denominational machinery going. Prayer is communion with God. It brings us into his divine presence. It “opens the windows of the soul heavenward.” Prayer does not change God. It changes the one who prays. Our prayers for personal help do not inform the Lord of our needs, nor cause him to7pity and love us. He knows our needs, and loves us just the same before we pray as afterward. Prayer enlightens those who pray, and places them in an attitude of humility and loyalty that will lead them to make a right use of the blessings of the Lord. He knows all the time what they need, and what his love continually longs to give them. All the praying of the week of prayer for the prosperity of the cause will not increase the Lord’s interest in it. It will not increase his assurance in its final triumph. It will not give him courage to undertake to do more to hasten it. But earnest prayer will do all that for the one who prays aright. It will put him in such union and harmony with God that he will see light in God’s light. His mind will be illuminated and filled with the Lord’s wisdom. His heart will be inspired with the assurance and courage of his great Leader in the conflict. His soul will be filled with a love for the perishing that will lead to sacrifice and service for their salvation. This experience, this condition of heart, this attitude toward God and humanity, is just what the church needs. It is this that will make God’s people the power in the world that he intends them to be. Without this heart experience the message for this time will lose its meaning and its charm to us, the work of God will be made secondary to our personal interests, and the worship of God will become destructive formalism. The week of prayer is intended to aid the church in reaching higher spiritual ground, and to stimulate her in missionary enterprises. When the Saviour sent the seventy out to make him known in every city, he said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth the laborers into his harvest.” What is the situation presented?—A large field and few laborers. What was the remedy?—“Pray ye.” Here is a lesson. Prayer is the resource of the church in behalf of a destitute field—not to take the place of laborers, but to secure them. The harvest of the whole world is now to be garnered. Truly the laborers are few. The church must pray. How appropriate, then, that a week should be set apart for the study of the Bible, the field and its needs, and for prayer. Every believer in this message can take part in this season of devotion. There is nothing difficult nor strained in the arrangements. Preparations can be made beforehand so as to have as little of the regular work of life as possible to do during the week. All the readings will be printed this year in THE REVIEW AND HERALD. Every morning an hour can be devoted to the study of the reading for the day, and to prayer. This will be a good preparation for the meeting that may come later in the day or in the evening. Once reading is not enough for the stirring articles prepared for this occasion. They will bear rereading a number of times. Dear brethren and sisters, all that is true and solemn in this message calls to earnest prayer at this time. Do we need a week of prayer?—Most assuredly. Has the appointment of such an occasion at this time more in it than merely to comply with a form of long standing?—It certainly has. The earnest calls from open doors in all lands are not being answered by this people as they should be. Our comrades at the front are not being re-enforced as they must be. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” And remember that the earnest, importunate prayer of faith will not permit the one who offers it to withhold himself, nor his children, nor his money from going forth into the harvest-field in harmony with his prayers. A. G. DANIELLS.