If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5.
There are so many who, when they are in trouble, … forget the invitations God has abundantly given, and begin to look and plan for human help. They go to human beings for aid, and this is the way in which their experience becomes feeble and confused. In all our trials we are directed to seek the Lord most earnestly, remembering that we are His property, His children by adoption. No human being can understand our necessities as Christ [can]. We shall receive help, if we ask Him in faith. We are His by creation; we are His by redemption. By the cords of divine love we are bound to the Source of all power and strength. If we will only make God our dependence, asking Him for what we want, as a little child asks his father for what he wants, we shall obtain a rich experience. We shall learn that God is the source of all strength and power….
God has been greatly dishonored by His people leaning upon human beings. He has not told us to do this. He has told us that He will teach us, He will guide us. We may come to Him and receive help….
What did Christ promise His disciples if they would believe in Him as their personal Saviour? “Lo, I am with you alway,” He said, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Again He says, “I am at thy right hand to help thee” (see Psalm 16:8). Think of how many promises He has given us, which we may grasp by the hand of faith. When we go to the Source of power, we know that we shall receive that intelligence and wisdom which comes from a pure source, which is not mixed with anything of humanity. As we pray, it is our privilege to know that God wants us to pray, to ask Him for help. “Ask, and ye shall receive” (John 16:24). It is for you to believe that you will receive. He wants us to become acquainted with Him, to speak to Him, to tell Him of our difficulties, and obtain an experience in asking of One who never misjudges and never makes a mistake….
We dishonor God by striving to get someone who we think understands our case to help us. Has He not given us His only begotten Son? Is not Christ close beside us, and will He not give us the help we need? …
We forget that the threshold of heaven is flooded with the glory proceeding from the throne of God, that the light may fall directly on those who are seeking the help that Christ alone can give.—Manuscript 144, April 3, 1901, “Early Morning Meeting.”
The Upward Look p. 107
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Prayer Requests
—-Would appreciate prayers for Maxx. I thought after 1 1/2 weeks of not feeling well he was getting better. Not! He hasn’t been eating for two days. Didn’t take meds today because he didn’t want to throw them up. He threw up anyway. He has no fever but he’s pale and miserable. He did hold down liquids the rest of the day but he laid down all day too. I dont like having sick kids. Carol
—-Pls pray for my boy Lee. He is having his wisdom teeth pulled today. Praying all goes well. Donnell
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Dear Friends,
The parable of the prodigal son so truly illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. It is found in Luke 15:11 and onward. Often, as we read this parable, we think of this for the overt sinner and fail to realize that we, ourselves, are that prodigal son. While we may outwardly comply, how often we rebel inwardly against our loving Heavenly Father’s commands. How many times we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even when we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us and wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness. Praise God! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19
Think of it! No matter what the sin, we can return to our Loving Heavenly Father. He will wrap us in His loving arms and lead us Homeward. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:9-2:2
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us about our former waywardness. Instead, He rejoices when we come to Him. He assures us, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment. He is pleading with us now, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20
Moreover, if we open our heart’s door to Him, He will develop within us His own perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others. He promises, ” A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we open our heart’s-door to our Loving Saviour. May our prayer be the words of a song Esther Marie wrote many years ago. “Lord, give me a clean heart, A kind and a true heart. Lord, through me please show, Others that You care. Lord, give me a new heart, A loving and pure heart, So others may find You And know that You care. Though this world is rough and dirty, A new heart is waiting for you. Though your sins may be many, Jesus is waiting for you. Lord, give me a new heart And keep me in Your care.”
Rose