Basic HTML Version
172
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
because it has no experience in that direction. This is the reason why
nearly all consider it uphill business to serve the Lord.
When the heart is divided, dwelling principally upon things of
the world, and but little upon the things of God, there can be no
special increase of spiritual strength. Worldly enterprises claim the
larger share of the mind, calling into exercise its powers; therefore in
this direction there is strength and power to claim more and more of
the interest and affections, while less and less is reserved to devote
to God. It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is not a
special exercise of the mind. Family or public prayer alone is not
sufficient. Secret prayer is very important; in solitude the soul is laid
bare to the inspecting eye of God, and every motive is scrutinized.
Secret prayer! How precious! The soul communing with God!
Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No
curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions. In secret prayer
[190]
the soul is free from surrounding influences, free from excitement.
Calmly, yet fervently, will it reach out after God. Secret prayer is
frequently perverted, and its sweet designs lost, by loud vocal prayer.
Instead of the calm, quiet trust and faith in God, the soul drawn out in
low, humble tones, the voice is raised to a loud pitch, and excitement
is encouraged, and secret prayer loses its softening, sacred influence.
There is a storm of feeling, a storm of words, making it impossible
to discern the still, small voice that speaks to the soul while engaged
in its secret, true, heartfelt devotion. Secret prayer, properly carried
out, is productive of great good. But prayer which is made public to
the entire family and neighborhood is not secret prayer, even though
thought to be, and divine strength is not received from it. Sweet
and abiding will be the influence emanating from Him who seeth
in secret, whose ear is open to answer the prayer arising from the
heart. By calm, simple faith the soul holds communion with God
and gathers to itself divine rays of light to strengthen and sustain it
to endure the conflicts of Satan. God is our tower of strength.
Jesus has left us word: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not
when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or
at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He
find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
We are waiting and watching for the return of the Master, who is to
bring the morning, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. What