BLESSED IS HE THAT READETH

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is it hand." Rev. 1:3.

When a real love for the Bible is awakened, and the student begins to realize how vast is the field and how precious its treasure, he will desire to seize upon every opportunity for acquainting himself with God's Word. Its study will be restricted to no special time or place. And this continuous study is one of the best means of cultivating a love for the Scriptures. Let the student keep his Bible always with him. As you have opportunity, read a text and meditate upon it. While walking the streets, waiting at a railway station, waiting to meet an engagement, improve the opportunity to gain some precious thought from the treasure-house of truth.

The great motive powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love; and it is to these that Bible study, rightly pursued, appeals. The outward beauty of the Bible, the beauty of imagery and expression, is but the setting as it were, for its real treasure, - the beauty of holiness. In its record of the men who walked with God, we may catch glimpses of his glory. in the One "altogether lovely" we behold Him, of whom all beauty of earth and heaven is but a dim reflection....As the student of the Bible beholds the Redeemer, there is awakened in the soul the mysterious power of faith, adoration, and love. Upon the vision of Christ the gaze is fixed, and the beholder grows into the likeness of that which he adores...

The springs of heavenly peace and joy unsealed in the soul by the words of Inspiration will become a mighty river of influence to bless all who come within its reach. - Education, pp. 191, 192.

FAITH AND BELIEF ARE NECESSARY

"But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.

In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin.

It is His will to cleanse us form sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." - Ministry of Healing, p.70

It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every evil trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. he who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men, is still the same mighty reedemer. then grasp His promises as leaves from the tree of life:  "Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out." As you come to Him, believe that He accepts you, because He has promised. You can never perish while you do this-never.-Ibid., pp. 65,66.

In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that every one who would make his life-work a success must understand. - Education, p. 257

IF TWO SHALL AGREE, IT SHALL BE DONE

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 18:19.

The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the lord comes forth as an  avenger, he will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity, and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that god has promised to avenge his won elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them. - Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 210.

Strive earnestly for unity. Pray for it, work for it, it will bring spiritual health, elevation of though, nobility of character, heavenly-mindedness, enabling you to overcome selfishness and evil-surmising, and to be more than conquerors through him that loved you, and gave Himself for you. Crucify self; esteem others better than yourselves. Thus you will be brought into oneness with Christ. Before the heavenly universe, and before the church and the world, you will bear unmistakable evidence that you are God's sons and daughters. God will be glorified in the example that you set. The world needs to see worked out before it the miracle that binds the hearts of God's people together in Christian love. IT needs to see the Lord's people sitting together in heavenly places in Christ. -Ibid., vol. 9, p. 188.

God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. May the Lord help us to help one another, and to prove Him by living faith. - Ibid., vol. 8, p.12

SECRET PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into they closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matt. 6:6

Family prayer and public prayer have their place; but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul-life. It was in the mount with God that Moses beheld the pattern of what wonderful building which was to be the abiding -place of His glory. It is in the mount with God- the secret place of communion-that we are to contemplate His glorious ideal for humanity. Thus we shall be enabled so to fashion our character-building that to us may be fulfilled the promise, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

While engaged in our daily work, we should lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These silent petitions rise like incense before the throne of grace; and the enemy is baffled. The Christian whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot be overcome. No evil arts can destroy his peace. All the promises of God's Word, all the power of divine grace, all the resources of Jehovah, are pledged to secure his deliverance. - Gospel Workers, p.254.

God reads teh hidden thoughts. We may pray in secret, and he who sees in secret will hear, and will reward us openly. - Messages to young People, p. 247.

We should be much in secret prayer. Christ is the vine, we are the branches. And if we would grow and flourish, we must continually draw sap and nourishment from the living Vine; for separated from the Vine, we have no strength....Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. - Early Writings, p. 73.

ASK, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24.

It was represented to me like children asking a blessing of their earthly parents who love them. They ask something that the parent knows will hurt them; the parent gives them the things that will be good and healthful for them, in the place of that which they desired. i saw that every prayer which is sent up in fiath from an honest heart, will be heard of God and answered, and the one that sent up the petition will have the blessing when he needs it most, and it will often exceed his expectations. Not a prayer of a true saint is lost if sent up in faith, from an honest heart. - Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 121.

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 strength and grace gained from heaven that we can hope to meet the temptations and perform the duties before us....

Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come....The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good. - Gospel Workers, pp. 257, 258.

WHATSOEVER WE ASK WE RECEIVE

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22.

It is possible even for a parent to turn away from his hungry child, but God can never reject the cry of the needy and longing heart. With what wonderful tenderness he has described His love! To those who in days of darkness fee that God is unmindful of them, this is the message from the Father's heart: “Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.

Every promise in the Word of God furnishes us with subject-matter for prayer, presenting the pledged word of Jehovah as our assurance. Whatever spiritual blessing we need, it is our privilege to claim through Jesus. We may tell the Lord, with the simplicity of a child, exactly what we need. We may state to Him our temporal matters, asking Him for bread and raiment as well as for the bread of life and the robe of Christ's righteousness. Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things, and you are invited to ask him concerning them. It is through the name of Jesus that every favor is received. God will honor that name, and will supply your necessities from the riches of His liberality.

But do not forget that in coming to God as a father, you acknowledge your relation to him as a child. You not only trust His goodness, but in all things yield to His will, knowing that His love is changeless. - Mount of Blessing, pp. 190, 191.

IF I CALL, GOD WILL ANSWER

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”. Ps. 91:15.

We all desire immediate and direct answers to our prayers, and are tempted to become discouraged when the answer is delayed or comes in an unlooked-for form. But God is too wise and good to answer our prayers always at just the time and in just the manner we desire. He will do more and better for us than to accomplish all our wishes. And because we can trust His wisdom and love, we should not ask Him to concede to our will, but should seek to enter into and accomplish His purpose. Our desires and interests should be lost in His will. These experiences that test faith are for our benefit. By them it is made manifest whether our faith is true and sincere, resting on the word of God alone, or whether depending on circumstances, it is uncertain and changeable. Faith is strengthened by exercise. We must let patience have its perfect work, remembering that there are precious promises in the Scriptures for those who wait upon the Lord. - Ministry of Healing, pp. 230, 231.

God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from His saints that walk uprightly. Man is erring, and although his petitions are sent up from an honest heart, he does not always ask for the things that are good for himself, or that will glorify God. When this is so, our wise and good Father hears our prayers, and will answer, sometimes immediately; but He gives us the things that are for our best good and His own glory. God gives us blessings; if we could look into His plan, we would clearly see that He knows what is best for us, and that our prayers are answered. - Testimonies, vol. 1, pp. 120, 121.