SISTERS will find prayer to be a very important element of success in overcoming difficulties. There are many instances on record of women who feared God, and whose prayers were heard and answered according to their requests. Their lives were like our own, made up of the common place and ordinary occurrences of daily duty in the household. The desires and aspirations that animated their breasts were the same as animate ourselves. They were subject to like passions as we are; were like ourselves encompassed with weakness; yet their prayers were heard, because they put their trust in God. When we call to remembrance the examples on record where help was visibly vouchsafed to those who prayed to God in the hour of need, we do well to consider whether we individually take full advantage of this blessed privilege. True it is that the promises of God belong especially to the nation of Israel; but are we less Israel than the Israel of old? Do we not know that by our obedience to the truth, we are adopted into the family of him to whom the promises were made, and are therefore no longer aliens, but of the household of faith? This we do know, and ought therefore to live up to the fact that God is to us the Hearer and Answerer of prayer.

We cannot come to the door of the tabernacle or the temple with our offerings, like the women of old. We have a new way of approach, even the Lord Jesus who is at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens: our high priest and intercessor. We are assured by those whom he sent to spread his name, that all who come unto God in this new and living way, will obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This we have on the authority of Paul (Heb. 10:19-20). How often we feel that this is just what we want -- a refuge in the time of trouble, "help in the time of need!" Surely, amid the accumulating cares of life, feeling oftentimes the need of wisdon, to guide, of courage and strength to pursue the steady path of duty amid conflicting elements, we shall do unwisely if we neglect to retire to our closets and make our requests known unto God. He will hear us when we pray, for He cannot lie, and He has said, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me" (Psa. 50:15; Heb. 13:5-6; James 4:8). Paul also encourages the same attitude of mind toward God. He says, "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2).

Many prayerful songs of thanksgiving are on record, of those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. How delightful to rejoice before the Lord with such a song of thanksgiving upon our lips as this (Psalm 28:7):

"The Lord is my Strength and my Shield;
My heart trusted in Him and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
And with my song will I praise Him."

Let the adopted daughters of the house of Israel, in these latter days, follow the example of the holy women of old, in supplicating the Most Holy in whatever matters they have need; let them accept the help of God, and let their songs of thanksgiving ascend. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and are safe." (Prov. 18:10). With such a strong refuge, they may trust to be sustained. -- Jane Roberts

There is no exhaustion of God's power. He takes charge of the great things in our lives and undertakes for us in the smallest matters also. There are a multitude of mercies with Him; and abundant answer will be given to all our pleadings (Psa. 69:15). Whatever waters of sorrow or temptation we may sink into, whatever floods of trouble may seem to overwhelm us, let us persevere in prayer.

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