Prayer Meeting
379
How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies
that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no
tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes,
God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest
prayer, and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But
many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and
disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining
and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more
sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed
the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to
them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations
to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to
find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine,
whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God
The habit of brooding over anticipated evils is unwise and unchris-
tian. In thus doing we fail to enjoy the blessings and to improve the
opportunities of the present. The Lord requires us to perform the
duties of today and to endure its trials. We are today to watch that we
offend not in word or deed. We must today praise and honor God. By
the exercise of living faith today we are to conquer the enemy. We
[294]
must today seek God and be determined that we will not rest satisfied
without His presence. We should watch and work and pray as though
this were the last day that would be granted us. How intensely earnest,
then, would be our life. How closely would we follow Jesus in all our
words and deeds!
God’s Interest in Little Things
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
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.
541
Testimonies for the Church 5:315