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Watch and Pray, December 20
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mark 13:33
.
“Take ye heed, watch and pray” were the words of our Saviour spoken in
reference to the time of the end, and His second coming to take His faithful children
home.
First, you are to watch. Watch, lest you should speak hastily, fretfully and
impatiently. Watch, lest pride should find a place in your heart. Watch, lest evil
passions should overcome you, instead of your subduing them. Watch, lest a careless,
indifferent spirit comes upon you, and you neglect your duty and become light and
trifling, and your influence savor of death, rather than life.
Second, you are to pray. Jesus would not have enjoined this upon you, unless
there was actual necessity for it. It is well known to Him that of yourself you cannot
overcome the many temptations of the enemy, and the many snares laid for your
feet. He has not left you alone to do this; but has provided a way that you can obtain
help. Therefore He has bid you to pray.
To pray aright is to ask God in faith for the very things you need. Go to your
chamber, or in some retired place, and ask your Father for Jesus’ sake to help you.
There is power in that prayer that is sent up from a heart convinced of its own
weakness, yet earnestly longing for that strength that comes from God. The earnest,
fervent prayer will be heard and answered. Go to your God who is strong, and who
loves to hear children pray, and, although you may feel very weak, and find yourself
at times overcome by the enemy, because you have neglected the first command of
our Saviour, to watch, yet do not give up the struggle. Make stronger efforts yourself
than before. Faint not. Cast yourself at the feet of Jesus, who has been tempted,
and knows how to help such as are tempted. Confess your faults, your weakness,
and that you must have help to overcome, or you perish. And as you ask, you must
believe that God hears you.... God will help you. Angels will watch over you.
But before you can expect this help, you must do what you can on your part.
Watch and pray. Let your prayers be fervent. Let this be the language of your heart,
“I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Have a set time, a special season for
prayer at least three times a day. Morning, noon, and at night Daniel prayed to his
God, notwithstanding the king’s decree, and the fearful den of lions. He was not
ashamed or afraid to pray, but with his windows opened he prayed three times a day.
Did God forget His faithful servant when he was cast into the lions’ den? O, No. He
was with him there all night. He closed the mouths of these hungry lions, and they
could not hurt the praying man of God (
Youth’s Instructor, October 1, 1855
).
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