DO YOU PRAY?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1879

Reader, prayer is the language of need and of dependence. You need many things, and you are dependent for them upon a higher power than man. Let me then ask you, Do you pray?

I hope you will not misunderstand this question, for it is very important. I do not ask whether you go to church or stay at home. I do not ask whether you read prayers from a book, or whether you say prayers from memory, or whether you compose prayers extemporaneously. I do not ask whether you have a special “gift” of prayer, or whether you pray long, so long that men get asleep before you close; or loud, so loud that men hear you for miles; or low, so that your voice almost dies upon the air when it is uttered; or eloquently, so that men are charmed with your words and your tones; or broken, and uncouthly, so that the refined will feel that your sentences grate upon their ears. No; my question is not about the place or the manner of your praying, but the fact, Do you pray? I do not ask from idle curiosity, but from sincere and friendly interest, and that you may carefully ponder the question, Do you pray?

I have several reasons for asking. One of them is, all men ought to pray. All are dependent, and needy, and guilty; and prayer becomes such persons. Another reason is, many men think that they pray when they do not pray as they should. Some pray to idols, to images, to stocks and stones; to men, to saints, to the dead, and to many things that can neither hear nor help them. Some pray, too, in such a way that their prayers are not heard. Some persons pray to be heard of men, and have their reward in being thus heard. Another reason is, many men do not pray habitually at all. Hundreds hardly ever pray. They curse, they blaspheme, they swear, but they do not pray. Some say prayers, and read prayers, and make prayers, but they do not truly pray. Their whole lives show this, for praying will cause men to cease from sin. Their deaths show this, for those who truly pray can die in great peace. One more reason why I ask this question is, all men must and will pray—if not here, hereafter; if not now, by-and-by. Men must knock at mercy’s gate, either while it is open, as it is now, or when it is shut, as it will be ere long. Men will surely pour out their petitions—if not for pardon, while there is time, it may be for refuge, when it is too late. If not for mercy to cleanse the soul, it may be for water to cool the tongue. If not for Christ to save them, it may be for rocks to fall on them. If not for God to pardon them, it may be for mountains to hide them. If they will not pray to share Christ’s mercy, they may pray to shun his wrath. If they will not pray in health, they may in sickness; if not in security, perhaps they will in danger; if not in life, they may in death; if not in probation, they will before the judgment-seat of Christ. Then every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God. So, since all these things are true, I venture, in view of them all, to ask you the question, Do you pray?

Not, did you pray once? for no doubt you have prayed in some hour of danger, in the storm, the shipwreck, the collision—in some time of sickness, the fever, or the pestilence—in some hour of sorrow, bereavement, misfortune, or distress. No doubt you prayed then. Nor do I ask whether you have promised to pray if God would spare you till now—very likely you may have made such promises which God remembers, even if you try to forget them. Nor do I ask whether you intend to pray by-and-by when you get rich, or old, or sick, or great in this world. I have no desire to put these questions. I believe you have prayed—I presume you have resolved and promised to pray sometime, and I know you will pray by-and-by. My question only has respect to the present time. It is this, Do you pray? It is not whether your friends pray—nor whether you were taught to pray by a pious mother when you could scarcely lisp “Our Father which art in Heaven”—not whether you think prayer a very good thing—but, Do you pray?

You are a sinner. Do you ask how I know? Because all have sinned. Sin, when once committed, cannot be undone. It is done. The only remedy that can save from its consequences is Christ. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. This we have as our certain doom unless we escape through Christ. He offers salvation if we will seek and ask for it in sincerity and truth. So we must all pray, or die the second death. You desire to live forever, you wish to escape the dread results of sin. This can only be done by prayer. Do you pray?

Are you afraid to pray? You need not fear. The prayer of penitence is never rejected at the throne of God. One man, a publican, smote on his breast, and with downcast eyes cried, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and God heard him, and he went down to his house justified. Another, in the agonies of death, said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,” and in that very hour Jesus gave him the promise of being with him in paradise. A blind man cried, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” and at Christ’s word he received his sight. So thousands have prayed, and, praying, have received the Saviour’s answer, “Thy sins which are many are forgiven thee, go in peace and sin no more.”

David prayed, and God delivered his soul from blood guiltiness, and brought him out of the horrible pit and the miry clay, and placed his feet upon a rock, and put a new song in his mouth. Paul prayed while in his blindness and darkness, and he arose and was baptized and washed away his sins, “calling on the name of the Lord.” Peter prayed, John prayed, all good men have prayed, and have passed from the bondage of sin to the peace of Christ by the way of prayer. I have passed over that same way, and I know, reader, that if you will but pray in sincerity of heart, you shall have pardon. Oh, pray! while the Holy Spirit kindles within your heart the warm desire; lift it up to God, and take this as your word of comfort, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21. Are you saved? Do you call upon the name of the Lord? Do you pray?

But perhaps you are a Christian. If so, do you pray? You have found peace by prayer. Do you continue to pray? Do you live near the Lord? Do you “pray without ceasing”? Do you “watch unto prayer”? Are you “praying always in the Holy Ghost”? Do you “ask that you may receive”? Do you pray like the widow, crying day and night? Do you ask like a hungry child crying for bread? In a word, do you pray? Not, do you make long prayers for a pretence? Not, do you go through dead and dry forms? But, do you pray, humbly, fervently, believingly, and earnestly? Do you lift the heart and bend the knee to God? Do you pour out your soul before the Lord in holy pleading for his blessing upon yourself, your friends, and all around you? Do you seek for God’s help to strengthen you for the battle, and gird you for the race? Briefly, Do you pray?

Are you a wanderer from God? Once you prayed; but by neglecting to pray you have strayed far from the Lord. Wandering sheep! the shepherd seeketh thee, and calleth thee! Come to Christ. Confess your wanderings. Begin anew to pray. Poor prodigal, hungry and despised, arise, and go to your Father. Tell him how sadly you have wandered, and how bitterly you repent. Turn with weeping and with prayer unto him. Come, and there shall be joy in Heaven over your coming.

Do you pray, O sinner? Soon prayer will be of no avail. Now prayer may be offered and accepted. But at last, when the Judge cometh, there will be no mercy-seat accessible, and sinners’ prayers will be in vain. Till then, this question is of importance, Do you pray?

By-and-by we shall pray no more. Our supplications offered up “with strong cryings and tears,” shall be exchanged for the swelling anthems of the glorified beyond this world of woe. The mirth of the godless and the gay shall change to prayer, to dismal, wailing, fruitless prayer—prayer for refuge from impending wrath, prayer for hiding beneath rocks and mountains. Friend, will you pray or sing in that day? That depends upon the present life; upon the answer to this question: Do you pray?—Selected.