Chapter 2 4 (Romans 12:12). Instant in Prayer—God in His providence does not permit us to know the end from the beginning; but He gives us the light of His Word to guide us as we pass along, and bids us to keep our minds stayed upon Jesus. Wherever we are, whatever our employment, our hearts are to be uplifted to God in prayer. This is being instant in prayer. We need not wait until we can bow upon our knees, before we pray. On one occasion, when Nehemiah came in before the king, the king asked why he looked so sad, and what request he had to make. But Nehemiah dared not answer at once. Important interests were at stake. The fate of a nation hung upon the impression that should then be made upon the monarch’s mind; and Nehemiah darted up a prayer to the God of heaven, before he dared to answer the king. The result was that he obtained all that he asked or even desired (Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 144).{3BC 1136.5}

Kapitel 2

4 (Rom. 12,12).Udholdende i bønnen. - I sin forudseenhed lader Gud os ikke kende enden fra begyndelsen; men Han giver os Sit Ords lys til at vejlede os på vor vej, og påbyder os at holde vore tanker forankret på Jesus. Uanset hvor vi er, hvad vi beskæftiger, skal vore hjerter være opløftet til Gud i bøn. Det er at være udholdende i bøn. Vi skal ikke vente før vi kan bøje vore knæ, før vi beder. En gang hvor Nehemias stod frem for kongen, spurgte kongen hvorfor han så, så bedrøvet ud, og hvad han var kommet for at spørge om. Men Nehemias turde ikke svare med det samme. Vigtige interesser står på spil. Folkets skæbne afhang af det indtryk som han kunne give monarkens sind; og Nehemias sendte en bøn til himlens Gud, før han turde svare kongen. Resultatet var at han fik alt det han bad som eller endog ønskede (HS 144).