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THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 16, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 11.

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THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER.

By Augusta C. Bainbridge

BY AUGUSTA C. BAINBRIDGE.
“PRAYER is the Christian’s vital breath.” We learn what prayer is by praying. At first, perhaps, as children and youth, we learned to “say our prayers.” But the time came when this was nothing to us. We were touched by the power of the Spirit. Conviction held us helpless. We could only cry out, “Lord, save, or I perish.” We lived in the gladness of the answer to that prayer, and, as we found in our God a forgiving Saviour, we learned to come to Him in every hour of temptation. We found that He forgave us when we fell. He lifted us to our feet. He even kept us from falling, and gave us daily joy in a present help for every time of need.
Each has been a step in advance in the ministry of prayer; but when the joy of victory fills the soul, be sure the next step will be a reaching out for God in communion for our direction in service. The news is too good to keep.
Our temporal needs are laid before Him, and not one anxious care is hidden in our breasts.
Our physical blessings of healing, and continued health follow in lines of obedience, and faith is given to connect us with the Fountainhead.
Beyond these lies a deeper, higher field of prayer, where the soul drops all its desires, and lets the Holy Spirit lead into any object of prayer, any department of labor, just as God shall choose. God, our Creator, has so arranged His plan that His will is accomplished through His creatures, and the fully-surrendered soul will be assigned labor or burdens, according to His will.
No more anxiety about unanswered prayers; and no halting in service. We pray no longer for things we desire, but having surrendered all to Him, we ask for our prayers as we ask for our bread. His Spirit being in us and making intercession for us, the life-current will flow through us as freely as we will let it. All members of the body have not the same force or volume of blood flowing in the blood-vessels, some that are nearer the heart having more than others. So those dear saints who live closer to the heart of God, have a more fruitful current than those farther off.
The call to a life of prayer is one of the highest that can come to a Christian. It brings the soul into very close union with Christ, and, as it is a service which allows no field for external gifts, or showing off of talents, as singing, preaching, teaching, or writing, the temptation to pride or selfishness is removed.
It is one of great fruitfulness and rich blessing. When once one enters this life, we will be receiving sweet surprises in many requests for prayer, on behalf of others. This is a special honor laid on a surrendered soul, and if it is appreciated, and the time taken for deliberate meditation and prayer, pleading the promises of God, we will be surprised, not only by direct answers, but by the enlargement of interests and sweetness of loving service that will enter the heart and life.
Let us watch for openings, enter gladly, and serve faithfully. We will soon see His face.