Power of Prayer
397
The idea that prayer is not essential is one of Satan’s most success-
ful devices to ruin souls. Prayer is communion with God, the Fountain
of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace, and happiness
Tragedy of a Prayerless Home—I know of nothing that causes
me so great sadness as a prayerless home. I do not feel safe in such a
house for a single night; and were it not for the hope of helping the
parents to realize their necessity and their sad neglect, I would not
remain. The children show the result of this neglect, for the fear of
God is not before them
Formal Prayer Is Not Acceptable—In many cases the morn-
ing and evening worship is little more than a mere form, a dull,
monotonous repetition of set phrases in which the spirit of gratitude
or the sense of need finds no expression. The Lord accepts not such
service. But the petitions of a humble heart and contrite spirit He
will not despise. The opening of our hearts to our heavenly Father,
the acknowledgment of our entire dependence, the expression of our
wants, the homage of grateful love—this is true prayer
Let There Be Households of Prayer—Like the patriarchs of old,
those who profess to love God should erect an altar to the Lord wher-
ever they pitch their tent.... Fathers and mothers should often lift up
their hearts to God in humble supplication for themselves and their
[519]
children. Let the father, as priest of the household, lay upon the altar
of God the morning and evening sacrifice, while the wife and children
unite in prayer and praise. In such a household Jesus will love to tarry
Let the members of every family bear in mind that they are closely
allied to heaven. The Lord has a special interest in the families of His
children here below. Angels offer the smoke of the fragrant incense for
the praying saints. Then in every family let prayer ascend to heaven
both in the morning and at the cool sunset hour, in our behalf presenting
before God the Saviour’s merits. Morning and evening the heavenly
universe take notice of every praying household
Angels Guard Children Dedicated to God—Before leaving the
house for labor, all the family should be called together; and the father,
3
Ibid
.
4
The Signs of the Times, August 7, 1884
.
5
The Signs of the Times, July 1, 1886
.
6
Patriarchs and Prophets, 144
.
7
Manuscript 19, 1900
.