Prayer by Alice Thorp

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 16, 1879

Prayer.

By Alice Thorp

Though we cannot see Jesus, we can speak to him. We can pray. We are permitted, yea, even commanded, to do this. How great a privilege to be allowed to speak to God! “Call upon me in the day of trouble.” “Watch and pray.” “Pray without ceasing.”

Prayer requires no fine, well-arranged sentences. The simplest utterance of the heart’s desire is prayer. Those desires themselves, unbreathed, are prayers. We need not wait until we enter a church to pray. We may pray everywhere. Jesus is always waiting for the prayers of poor sinners, so that none ever escape his notice. His ear is always open.

It is difficult to speak to kings and princes. They can only be seen occasionally, and then but few persons are permitted to come near them. But all, however poor and despised, may at any time come to Jesus with their petitions. Whatever good things you want for the soul, pray. You cannot pray in vain. You may be assured that such prayers will be answered. There are some things which even God cannot do. He cannot refuse to listen to a poor sinner’s prayer, for he has promised, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” “Ask, and it shall be given you,” said Jesus; and his word declares, “He cannot deny himself.” Then be encouraged to pray. However vile and helpless you may be, you are not too bad to pray. Pray, if you can only utter the petition, “Save, Lord, or I perish.”

Make a habit of prayer. Find some place where you can be alone. “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door.” Rise before the work of the day begins, that you may have time to pray. Lay open your heart before God. Tell him how vile and helpless and wretched you are. Confess your sins and cry for pardon. Read the Bible, and ask for that holiness which is commanded there. Say, “Lord, I am ignorant, teach me. My heart is hard, soften it. Convert me by thy Holy Spirit. Help me to come to Jesus, to believe, love, and obey him. Save me from sin, and fit me for Heaven.” And throughout the day let your heart often ascend to God, even while engaged in your necessary labor. “Pray without ceasing.” If the answer does not seem to come at once, pray on, and success is certain.

A praying soul can never be lost. You never will perish while you are sincerely calling upon Jesus, saying, “Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner.”

Mrs. Alice Thorp.