Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

you."along."me""The following article by Mrs. AldineWoodruff was written and sent tothe members of her "Prayer Shut-inClub"in five states and the vicinity ofPittsburgh. This club consists of 125"shut-ins" with whom she keeps in constant contact by mail, telephone and byprayer. She carries on a telephone ministry for those who call her for spiritualhelp. A prayer group of 15 earnestChristians joins her in prayer at a statedtime each day in their own homes. Shehas spoken frequentlyWork Among Shut-Insover radio stationWPIT with an evangelistic appeal.Mrs. Woodruff is a Covenanter withmembership in our Union congregationat Mars, Pa."WHEN YOU PRAY, BELDSVEDear Friend in Christ:Are you weary, tired and discouraged?Are you seeking for healing of body andsoul? I know One who can help you,dear friend, and that One is Jesus, ourLord. He can heal every heartache;there is nothing impossible with Him.Put yourself in His care and keepingpower. Nothing can touch you there.Oh, claim the precious promises He hasgiven us; give yourself to Him, bodyand soulall you are and all that youhave are His. In John 15:7, Jesus said:"If ye abide in me and my words abidein you, ye shall ask what ye will, and itshall be done untoare yours.Then all thingsWill you not venture out on His promises? Are you so fearfulcourage that you cannot stepso lacking inout uponGod's promises, and risk your all onHis faithfulness? If Peter did sink beneath the waves, he had the courage toventure out at Christ's call. If we do notstep out on His Word, and put thatWord to the test, we will never knowwhat God means when He says, "Callupon me and I will answer thee andshow thee great and mighty thingswhich thou knowestnot"(Jeremiah 33:3). Are you willing to do this?1. Completely surrender yourself to God;begin with a clean heart and a perfectyieldedness to His willthen He willcover you with His robe of righteousness.2. Commit His promises; stand firmlyupon them; study His Word for inGod's Word you will find the strengthand faith you need. Commit His promises; hold them deep in your heart,and when you need them they will bethere. Here are a few that have334helped me: Mark 9:23; 11:24; I John5:14, 15; Ex. 15:26; Psa. 103:3; Isa.40:31.3. Be definite with God; tell Him exactlyyour need. Remember you are talkingto Him who loves you and knows allabout you and your need. Trust Hislove for you and have a definite prayer time to meet God. He will not failyou. He will be there to meet you.Have faithfor faith is the key thatopens the door. When we have a business transaction, we believe in theone with whom we have it; we takehim at his word and accept his promises. Oh, what a pity that we can anddo take man's word so easilyand beso definite in our transactions withone another, and so indefinite with ourGod!4- Expect things from God. There aretwo kinds of Christiansthose whopray and expect things to happen, andthose who just pray, but do not expectthe answers. How much they miss,for again we hear Him say: "Callupon me and I will answer thee." Howit must grieve the loving heart ofChrist for His child to pray on and onand never show an expectant attitude.Listen to His words as He speaksthem: "Whatsoever things ye desire,when ye pray, believe that ye receivethem and ye shall have them." Do youbelieve His word? When you prayBELIEVE!5. Accept from God. It is amazing howpeople who, after having asked God todo the giving, actually expect Him todo the taking also;expect Him without the least effort on their part, tocome right down and lay it in theirhands. God does not do that. Oh no,we must go to Him and accept ourgifts, meet His conditions; believe andreceive. "Believe that ye shall receive them, and ye shall have them"(Mark 11:24). Stand on His promises;stand your ground, knowing no matter what happens, God does not andcannot fail. For every look at yourtroubles, take a hundred looks at thepromises of God.6. Put faith into action. As someone hassaid, "When faith goes to market, ittakes a basket When we go toGod in prayer, let's not take a thimble, but a basketGod"(Mk. 11:22).and "Have Faith in~. Praise Him and thank Him for youranswers. You have sent in your request,now wait in confidence for itscoming. Leave it with Him, for Hehath never failed in one of His promises. In Psalm 103:2, 3, we read "Blessthe Lord, O my soul, and forget notall His benefits; who forgiveth allthine iniquities; who healeth all thydiseases."Oh, how much He has togive to you His child, if only you willgive Him a chance! Christ stands without-stretched hands to you, and Hishands are filled with gifts of love;with Forgiveness, Peace, Joy, andHealing. He is your Saviour who lovesso much He willingly died for you. Hesees every tear; He knows everyheartache ; He hears your lowest whisper, and longs to share them with you,but cannot, unless you ask Him. Oh!He is such a wonderful Christ! Whenyou go to the Father's throne inprayer, you do not go alone. Oh, no!He, the Holy Spirit, prayeth throughyou, and Christ, our Lord, intercedesfor you. Now how can you doubt sogreat a love when He said: "If thoucanst believe, all things are possibleto him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).The eternal promises of God are triedand true. "He shields all who take shelter with Him" (II Samuel 22:31). Wemust obey God's leading. We cannottrust our own wisdom. Outside of God'swill we can do nothing; but as Paul said;"I can do all things through Christ whostrengtheneth(Phil. 4:13). Let usgo forward with Him, letting Him Live,Love, Speak and Pray through us."Brethren, I count not myself to haveapprehended; but this one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind,and reaching forth unto those thingswhich are before, I press toward themark for the prize of the high calling ofGod in Jesus Christ.""Giving thanksunto the Father, who hath made us ableto be partakers of the inheritance of theSaints"(Col. 1:12). "Thanks be to Godwho gives us the victory through ourLord, Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57).God bless you.Mrs. Woodruff."HIS WILL BE DONE ""His will be done," we say with sighsand trembling.Expecting the trial, bitter loss and tears.And then how doth He answer us withblessingsIn sweet rebuking of our faithless fears!"God's will is peace and plenty and powerTo be and to have the best that He cangive:A mind to serve Him and a heart tolove Him,The faith to die and the strength to live.COVENANTER WITNESS