Prayer
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body — Rom. 8:23.
The Lord's people are not to parade their difficulties, bemoaning their lot; on the contrary, they have the privilege of prayer and the instructions of the Word of God teaching them why present evil conditions are permitted at all, and how and when and why the time is nearing in which all tears will be wiped off all faces, and there shall be no more sighing and crying and dying. Instead therefore of groaning before the world, they should rejoice and show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our sympathy for the poor world without these advantages should so bestir us to tell them the Gospel, that our own woes would be smothered—partially forgotten—Z '02, 40 (R 2947). The human family groans under the curse, which consists of rank growth, drought, blight, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves, storms, floods, extremes of climate, Satan, fallen angels, sin, error, sorrow, depravity, hatred, strife, persecution, exaltation of the wicked, exploitation, tyranny, priestcraft, sectarianism, labor, panics, loss, alienation from God, sickness, dying and death. God's Gospel-Age people groan inwardly, from the effects of the curse, and from the added sufferings of their sacrifice. The race groans outwardly; though unable to overcome internal, we are to suppress external groanings. The world groans, while expecting deliverance, which God will give them at the revelation of the elect in glory. We groan while awaiting our full sonship in the resurrection, which will deliver us from the evils of the flesh into the glories that we will receive with Jesus—P '33, 163. Parallel passages: Psa. 5:1-3; 32:6; 37:4; 42:8; 50:14, 15; 116:2; Ezra 9:6, 15; Dan. 6:10; Gen. 18:23-32; Matt. 15:22-28; Luke 12:37; 18:1-7; Eph. 6:18; Psa. 69:6, 13; 74:10, 11, 18, 20-23; Mark 8:6; Acts 27:35; 6:4; Rom. 1:4; 1 Tim. 5:5. Hymns: 35, 50, 56, 235, 239, 274, 323. Poems of Dawn, 116: Communion With Our Father. Tower Reading: Z '12, 149 (R 5021). Questions: Has this week been one of prayerfulness? What helped or hindered therein? What have been the results? |
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COMMUNION WITH OUR FATHER
OFT when alone in prayer I kneel
Before my Father's throne;
I cannot tell Him all I feel,
Nor make my wishes known.
With heart subdued, and head bowed low,
I lean upon His breast,
And while the tears unbidden flow,
My love for Him confess.
I have no boon to ask of Him,
Save that His will be done,
To make me holy, pure within—
An image of His Son.
But as He smiles and draws me near—
His Spirit from above
Floods all my soul with peace so dear,
And fills my heart with love.
Though from my gaze He hides His face,
My soul, from self apart,
Hath found its happy resting place
Close to His loving heart.
OFT when alone in prayer I kneel
Before my Father's throne;
I cannot tell Him all I feel,
Nor make my wishes known.
With heart subdued, and head bowed low,
I lean upon His breast,
And while the tears unbidden flow,
My love for Him confess.
I have no boon to ask of Him,
Save that His will be done,
To make me holy, pure within—
An image of His Son.
But as He smiles and draws me near—
His Spirit from above
Floods all my soul with peace so dear,
And fills my heart with love.
Though from my gaze He hides His face,
My soul, from self apart,
Hath found its happy resting place
Close to His loving heart.
