For several years I was a student in one of our colleges, and enjoyed the Week of Prayer as it came to us each year; but presently it seemed to me that I was doing the same thing over and over again. I would make a new start, and enjoy a few weeks of joyous experience; then as the days and weeks passed, discouragement, doubt, and failure resumed their place. I heard others speak of the joy and victory to be found in the Christian life, but was conscious that my own life lacked this power, and that I did not have the victory I longed for.
Last year, while teaching in one of our academies, I became much dissatisfied with my Christian experience, and my lack of power to help the students. There were those around me who needed help; but while I was conscious that I myself did not have complete victory, how could I help them to gain it? This led me to serious meditation and prayer. While talking with a friend, I found that she felt the same way. Together we sought the Lord, each day praying for help, though at first I hardly knew what to pray for.
We formed a little prayer band, with six members, and each day studied, and prayed for faith, and for the aid of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray. All of us were Christians, but our lives were devoid of power. Constantly my mind was seeking after a real and living experience.
As our little group continued studying and praying, we became convinced that what we needed was the presence of Christ abiding in us. Though we read and reread His promises, our minds seemed clouded and unable to grasp them. But we continued to pray earnestly for faith to claim these promises.
After nearly two weeks of earnest prayer and heart searching, our prayers were definitely answered, and Christ revealed Himself to us in His beauty and loveliness. We could not keep this experience to ourselves, but have told others and helped them to find the way to Christ.
This experience of personal fellowship with Christ is a real and happy one. Each day He means more to me, and the consciousness of His presence in my life is worth everything. Though our prayer group is now separated, we have the sweet assurance of Christ's abiding presence. I am determined to go on, each day receiving new revelations of His character, and letting Him fill my life with His matchless love.
An Academy Teacher.
