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Daughters of God
provision that has been made for us. We are not obliged to trust in
the evidence that we had a year or a month ago, but we may have the
assurance today that Jesus lives, and is making intercession for us. We
cannot do good to those around us while our own souls are destitute of
spiritual life. Our ministers do not wrestle all night in prayer, as many
godly ministers before us have done. They sit up bent over tables,
writing lessons, or preparing articles to be read by thousands; they
arrange facts in shape to convince the mind in regard to doctrine. All
these things are essential; but how much God can do for us in sending
light and convicting power to hearts in answer to the prayer of faith!
The empty seats in our prayer meetings testify that Christians do not
realize the claims of God upon them; they do not realize their duty
to make these meetings interesting and successful. They go over a
monotonous, wearisome round, and return to their home unrefreshed,
unblessed.—
The Review and Herald, April 22, 1884
.
Communion With God Necessary—Several times each day pre-
cious, golden moments should be consecrated to prayer and the study
of the Scriptures, if it is only to commit a text to memory, that spiritual
life may exist in the soul. The varied interests of the cause furnish
us with food for reflection and inspiration for our prayers. Commu-
nion with God is highly essential for spiritual health, and here only
may be obtained that wisdom and correct judgment so necessary in
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the performance of every duty.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:459
(1880)
.
Do Not Neglect Prayer—Some, fearing they will suffer loss of
earthly treasure, neglect prayer and the assembling of themselves
together for the worship of God, that they may have more time to
devote to their farms or their business. They show by their works
which world they place the highest estimate upon. They sacrifice
religious privileges, which are essential to their spiritual advancement,
for the things of this life and fail to obtain a knowledge of the divine
will. They come short of perfecting Christian character and do not
meet the measurement of God. They make their temporal, worldly
interests first, and rob God of the time which they should devote to
His service. Such persons God marks, and they will receive a curse
rather than a blessing.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:654 (1871)
.
All Who Seek Jesus Find Him—Is there no time to pray? No
time to tell the Lord, “Thou must keep me by Thine own power”?