Striving Together For The Faith

By Lois J. Stucky

    What a challenge is the life of David Livingstone! His remarkable efforts to open interior Africa to the hearing of the Gospel were possible because God worked mightily in him and miraculously for him. The love of God knows no limit to reach the lost. To Him be the glory!

    The tender heart of our Lord still yearns over the vast fields ripe unto harvest. Have you found and taken your place in the harvest field? There is a place for each of us, especially as we unite our efforts with those of others, however much we vary in our opportunities and abilities. The faithful laborer, the Apostle Paul, uniquely called to be a leader, urged his fellow Christians to "…stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel" (Phil.1:27). And for himself, the apostle beseeched the Christians to "strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Rom. 15:30).

    To strive means to labor hard, to endeavor earnestly. To strive in prayer includes praying fervently, praying prayers of faith, prayers based on the promises of God, prayers directed by the Holy Spirit. It is easy to let our prayer life slack off, to treat it as if it is not worth sacrificing more than a minimum of time and effort. But because true prayer contacts Almighty God, prayer is of maximum value! This issue of Herald of His Coming has some very helpful articles to upbuild us in prayer. Might we all take time to strive to get a strong, fresh grip on effective praying.