Fasting and Prayer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 3, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 47.

Fasting and Prayer

JESUS said at one time, in speaking to His disciples concerning demons which they could not cast out, "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." This is true of many habits of life. They were inherent in the flesh; they were formed when the heart loved sin; they were then strengthened and established; and now, after the new heart is given, and new desires, new affections, and new purposes are planted within, the individual still finds it so easy to fall back into the old wrong habits. He does it without thinking. The very fibers of the flesh act involuntarily. Efforts are put forth to overcome, but in a little while failure marks the result, till despair settles upon the heart. "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." God will not forsake those who "set their face" "to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting," His favor and strength. Seek even to agony. Agonize to enter in at the strait gate; the mere seekers will fail. Earnest seeking of God by faith will bring power and strength to lift man above all sin and sinful habits. This does not mean that he will count himself holy. He will see so much in the transcendent character of Jesus, that like Daniel his own comeliness will seem corruption. His ambition will ever be to be a more devoted, useful, and competent servant for his Master.