Chapter 35—Prayer for the Sick
1015. It is labor lost to teach people to go to God as a healer of
their infirmities, unless they are educated also to lay aside every wrong
practise.—
Unpublished Testimonies, August 25, 1897
.
Cautions
1016. Many have expected that God would keep them from sick-
ness merely because they have asked him to do so. But God did not
regard their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by works.
God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no
care for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health,
and make no effort to prevent disease. When we do all we can on
our part to have health, then we may expect that the blessed results
will follow, and we can ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the
preservation of health. He will then answer our prayer, if his name can
be glorified thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to
do. God will not work in a miraculous manner to preserve the health
of persons who are taking a sure course to make themselves sick, by
their careless inattention to the laws of health.—
How to Live, 64
.
1017. In such cases of affliction where Satan has control of the
mind, before engaging in prayer there should be the closest self-
examination to discover if there are not sins which need to be repented
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of, confessed, and forsaken. Deep humility of soul before God is
necessary, and firm, humble reliance upon the blood of Christ alone.
Fasting and prayer will accomplish nothing while the heart is estranged
from God by a wrong course of action.—
Testimonies for the Church
2:146
.
1018. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear
us.... When we come to him, we should pray that we may enter into
and accomplish his purpose, and that our desires and interests may be
lost in his.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:148
.
193