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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious
privilege of prayer. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs.
We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our
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greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should
take it to the Lord in prayer. When we feel that we need the presence
of Christ at every step, Satan will have little opportunity to intrude his
temptations. It is his studied effort to keep us away from our best and
most sympathizing friend. We should make no one our confidant but
Jesus. We can safely commune with Him of all that is in our hearts.
Brethren and sisters, when you assemble for social worship, believe
that Jesus meets with you; believe that He is willing to bless you. Turn
the eye away from self; look unto Jesus, talk of His matchless love.
By beholding Him you will become changed into His likeness. When
you pray, be brief, come right to the point. Do not preach the Lord
a sermon in your long prayers. Ask for the bread of life as a hungry
child asks bread of his earthly father. God will bestow upon us every
needed blessing if we ask Him in simplicity and faith.
The prayers offered by ministers previous to their discourses are
frequently long and inappropriate. They embrace a whole round of
subjects that have no reference to the necessities of the occasion or
the wants of the people. Such prayers are suitable for the closet, but
should not be offered in public. The hearers become weary and long
for the minister to close. Brethren, carry the people with you in your
prayers. Go to your Saviour in faith, tell Him what you need on that
occasion. Let the soul go out after God with intense longing for the
blessing needed at that time.
Prayer is the most holy exercise of the soul. It should be sincere,
humble, earnest—the desires of a renewed heart breathed in the pres-
ence of a holy God. When the suppliant feels that he is in the divine
presence, self will be forgotten. He will have no desire to display
human talent; he will not seek to please the ear of men, but to obtain
the blessing which the soul craves.
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If we would only take the Lord at His word, what blessings might
be ours! Would that there were more fervent, effectual prayer. Christ
will be the helper of all who seek Him in faith.
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