Our great Helper in prayer is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Advocate, ever pleading our case before the Father. He is our “great high priest,” whose primary ministry has for centuries been intercession and prayer on our behalf. It is He who receives our imperfect petitions from our hands, cleanses them of their defects, corrects their error, and then claims their answer from His Father. And He does so strictly on the basis of His worth and righteousness through the sufficiency of His atonement.

Believer, are you lacking power in prayer? Look to Christ, for your blessed Advocate has already claimed your answer. And if you give up the fight just as the moment of victory approaches, you will grieve and disappoint Him. He has already entered “the Most Holy Place” (Exodus 26:33) on your behalf, holding up your name on the palms of His hands. The messenger is now on his way to bring you your blessing, and the Holy Spirit simply awaits your act of trust, so He may whisper in your heart the echo of the answer from the throne of God, “It is done” (Revelation 21:6). A. B. SIMPSON

The Holy Spirit is the one who works to make our prayers acceptable, yet we often forget this truth. He enlightens our mind so we may clearly see our desires, then softens our heart so we may feel them, and finally He awakens and focuses those desires toward godly things. He gives us a clear view of God’s power and wisdom, provides grace “in our time of need,” and strengthens our confidence in His truth so we will never waver.

Prayer is a wonderful thing, and each person of the Trinity is involved in every acceptable prayer. J. ANGELL JAMES

One of the blessings of the old-time Sabbath day was the calmness, restfulness, and holy peace that came from having a time of quiet solitude away from the world.

There is a special strength that is born in solitude.

Crows travel in flocks, and wolves in packs, but the lion and the eagle are usually found alone.

Strength is found not in busyness and noise but in quietness.

For a lake to reflect the heavens on its surface, it must be calm.

Our Lord loved the people who flocked to Him, but there are numerous accounts in the Scriptures of His going away from them for a brief period of time.

On occasion He would withdraw from the crowd and quite often would spend His evenings alone in the hills.

Most of His ministry was performed in the towns and cities by the seashore, but He loved the hills more and at nightfall would frequently seclude Himself in their peaceful heights.

The one thing we need today more than anything else is to spend time alone with our Lord, sitting at His feet in the sacred privacy of His blessed presence.

Oh, how we need to reclaim the lost art of meditation!

Oh, how we need “the secret place” (Psalm 91:1 KJV) as part of our lifestyle!

Oh, how we need the power that comes from waiting upon God!

It is good to live in the valley sweet, Where the work of the world is done, Where the reapers sing in the fields of wheat, And work till the setting of the sun.

But beyond the meadows, the hills I see Where the noises of traffic cease, And I follow a Voice who calls out to me From the hilltop regions of peace.

Yes, to live is sweet in the valley fair, And work till the setting of the sun; But my spirit yearns for the hilltop’s air When the day and its work are done.

For a Presence breathes o’er the silent hills, And its sweetness is living yet; The same deep calm all the hillside fills, As breathed over Olivet.

Every life that desires to be strong must have its “Most Holy Place” (Exodus 26:33) into which only God enters.