222
Gospel Workers 1915
Ministers who are truly Christ’s representatives will be men of
prayer. With an earnestness and faith that will not be denied, they
will plead with God to strengthen and fortify them for service, and to
sanctify their lips by a touch of the living coal, that they may know
[257]
how to speak His words to the people.
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. The prayer that Nathanael
offered came from a sincere heart, and it was heard and answered by
the Master. The Lord reads the hearts of all, and “the prayer of the
upright is His delight.” [
Proverbs 15:8
.] He will not be slow to hear
those who open their hearts to Him, not exalting self, but sincerely
feeling their weakness and unworthiness.
There is need of prayer, 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.” [
Psalm 42:1
;
119:40, 174
;
Psalm 84:2
.]
Those who teach and preach the most effectively are those who
wait humbly upon God, and watch hungrily for His guidance and His
grace. Watch, pray, work—this is the Christian’s watchword. The life
of a true Christian is a life of constant prayer. He knows that the light
and strength of one day is not sufficient for the trials and conflicts of
the next. Satan is continually changing his temptations. Every day we
shall be placed in different circumstances; and in the untried scenes
that await us we shall be surrounded by fresh dangers, and constantly
assailed by new and unexpected temptations. It is only through the
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strength and grace gained from heaven that we can hope to meet the
temptations and perform the duties before us.
It is a wonderful thing that we can pray effectually; that unworthy,
erring mortals possess the power of offering their requests to God.
What higher power can man desire than this,—to be linked with the
infinite God? Feeble, sinful man has the privilege of speaking to his
Maker. We may utter words that reach the throne of the Monarch of
the universe. We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He
says, I am at thy right hand. [See
Psalm 16:8
.]