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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of
faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious
evidence of the divine love and care for him. But why is it that so many
prayers are never answered? Says David: “I cried unto Him with my
mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my
heart, the Lord will not hear me.” By another prophet the Lord gives
us the promise: “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search
for Me with all your heart.” Again, he speaks of some who “have not
cried unto Me with their heart.” Such petitions are prayers of form, lip
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service only, which the Lord does not accept.
The prayer which Nathanael offered while he was under the fig
tree came from a sincere heart, and it was heard and answered by the
Master. Christ said of him: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no
guile!” The Lord reads the hearts of all and understands their motives
and purposes. “The prayer of the upright is His delight.” He will not
be slow to hear those who open their hearts to Him, not exalting self,
but sincerely feeling their great weakness and unworthiness.
There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—
such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: “As the hart panteth
after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.” “I have
longed after Thy precepts;” “I have longed for Thy salvation.” “My
soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart
and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” “My soul breaketh for the
longing that it hath unto Thy judgments.” This is the spirit of wrestling
prayer, such as was possessed by the royal psalmist.
Daniel prayed to God, not exalting himself or claiming any good-
ness: “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer
not, for Thine own sake, O my God.” This is what James calls the
effectual, fervent prayer. Of Christ it is said: “And being in an agony
He prayed more earnestly.” In what contrast to this intercession by the
Majesty of heaven are the feeble, heartless prayers that are offered to
God. Many are content with lip service, and but few have a sincere,
earnest, affectionate longing after God.
Communion with God imparts to the soul an intimate knowledge
of His will. But many who profess the faith know not what true
conversion is. They have no experience in communion with the Father
through Jesus Christ, and have never felt the power of divine grace to
sanctify the heart. Praying and sinning, sinning and praying, their lives