Dear Reader
“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Two things are essential to the nurturing and the maintenance of a fresh and healthy state of soul, the reading of the Word, and prayer. We cannot afford to neglect either if we desire that our hearts and lives may answer to the grace bestowed upon us. If the reading of the Word be neglected, we will be in danger of our prayers becoming an expression of mere natural desires instead of “intercession according to the will of God”. On the other hand, if prayer is neglected there will be no power nor joy but a cold barren state of soul. There is nothing more harmful to the spiritual vitality than having the mind occupied with divine truths while the heart and conscience remain strangers to its power. There can be no sure and more certain sign of low, unhealthy spiritual state than the absence of prayers.
If we look at Him as our blessed example and pattern we find that He commenced his ministry with prayer (Luke 3:21). And at the very close of His marvelous life amidst His agonies of the cross He prayed (Luke 23:34). Think of the blessed results that have followed the expression of dependence upon God in united or individual prayer. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and made bold to speak the word of God “after they had prayed” (Acts 4). The angel of the Lord delivered Peter from prison in answer to prayer which was made without ceasing from the church of God for him”(Acts12). I believe that when the history of the Church is surveyed from the glory it will be seen that every wave of blessing to saints and salvation of sinners has been preceded by the effectual, fervent prayers of many whose labor is better known in Heaven than on earth. Let us take to heart the challenge “pray without ceasing”.
It is our prayer that the Lord use this issue to help you to grow as we are dependent on Him to feed and strengthen His people.
Thank you for your overwhelming response and encouragement to this exercise. Please keep us in prayers.
Yours in our soon coming Lord,
Emil Nashed
Please send your questions and comments to:
Toward the Mark
C/O Wayne Christian Assembly
60 Smith Lane
Wayne, New Jersey 07470
Attention: Emil S. Nashed
