The Noon-Hour Prayer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1913

The Noon-Hour Prayer

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”

PHILLIPS BROOKS once said, “Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness.” The bounties of heaven are free to all on the condition of asking. The power of Omnipotence is waiting upon your praying, my praying. To every one of his children Christ has pledged his word: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” If God’s blessings could be purchased, how gladly we should work day and night for the gold and silver wherewith to buy them. If they came to us as rewards of merit, we should willingly climb many a Peter’s staircase, and toil our weary way to many a distant Mecca in order to win them. But because our Saviour’s mighty works for us are conditional only upon our simple asking, we stumble and often fail to find the blessing in store for us. Shall we not begin to-day to live the prayer life? Will you not ask in simple faith, according to the Father’s will, and receive your heart’s desire? To you who are trying to serve the Lord but are deeply conscious of the need of the Spirit’s quickening power in all that you do and say, to you who have loved ones outside of Christ who are daily resisting his call, to you who are burdened with anxious care, to you upon whom affliction’s heavy hand has been laid, to you who walk in darkness and have no light, the Heavenly Father says, I am able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think.

A California sister who asked prayer for the conversion of her father some weeks ago, writes that God has heard and answered. To-day he is a changed man.

A sister residing in Indiana who requested prayer for the recovery of her little niece, whom the doctors had given up to die, sends word that the child is rapidly improving.

Requests for Prayer

52. Writing from Indiana, a sister asks that we pray for her healing; also that her father may overcome the tobacco habit, and be led to believe the testimonies which God has given to this people.

53. From the same State (Indiana) an afflicted brother sends the request that prayer be offered for his restoration to health; for the conversion of his aged and afflicted mother; and for his wife, who is just now passing through severe trials.

54. A Wisconsin brother who has been suffering with consumption for some months, writes that the Lord has given him assurance of recovery. He desires us to pray that this manifestation of divine power may be the means of bringing his unconverted relatives and friends into the truth.

55. A sister residing in Wisconsin requests prayer for the healing of her mother, who has been an invalid for over a year.

56. A burdened mother asks that prayer be offered for the conversion of her son, who once loved this truth, but has gone out into the world.

57. From California comes the request for prayer in behalf of a physician and his wife who are passing through trying financial difficulties; also for a brother and sister who have recently accepted the truth, that they may be faithful in observing its precepts.

58. A sister in California asks prayer for the conversion of her husband and a wayward son; also for the healing of herself and little daughter.

59. A Michigan brother and sister desire prayers for deliverance from the power of the enemy. They are handicapped by physical afflictions, struggling with financial difficulties, and their home was recently destroyed by fire. Let us pray that they may be of good courage in the Lord.

60. Writing from Michigan, a sister requests that we pray for the conversion of her husband, who was once a member of this church but has gone out into the world, and for herself that she may have wisdom and strength properly to represent Christ in her home.

61. From the same State (Michigan) an anxious wife and mother sends the request for prayer in behalf of her unconverted husband, whose mind has been much weakened by sickness. She also desires us to pray for her son, that his appetite for strong drink and tobacco may be taken away, and for herself, that she may live closer to the Lord.

62. Still another request comes from Michigan. A sister is anxious that we pray for the conversion of her brother, who once rejoiced in this blessed truth, and for her aged father, who is bitterly opposed to the Sabbath.

63. “I am writing to ask prayer for

my mother, who is a lonely widow living in Virginia,” writes an Iowa friend. “She is losing her hearing, and is very desirous of healing if it is God’s will.”

64. A sister living in Washington asks the prayers of this people for her oldest son, who has given up the Sabbath.

65. An isolated brother in New Mexico desires prayer that he may have the victory over severe trials which he has experienced during the last two years.

66. From Nebraska an isolated sister whose memory is failing, sends a request for prayer. She also asks that we pray for the conversion of her family.

67. Writing from Colorado, a burdened sister expresses a desire that our prayer band plead with God for the conversion of her husband; for her mother and two sisters who have recently accepted the truth, that they may be strong and courageous; and for another sister who is on the verge of a nervous and mental breakdown.

68. “I desire an interest in your prayers, that if it be the Lord’s will my hearing may be restored, and that I may be healed of other troubles which threaten to develop into tuberculosis,” writes a sister from North Carolina. She also asks prayer for the healing of her nephew, who is seriously afflicted.

69. A sister living in Tennessee requests that the members of this prayer circle pray for the conversion of her husband and four sons.

70. Writing from Minnesota, an anxious father makes request that prayer be offered for his restoration to health, and for the conversion of his sons.