Recently there has come into the hearts of a great many of our church members a significant urgency concerning the need of a deeper experience in the things of the Spirit, a preparation for the trials and perils of the last days and for the soon coming of our Saviour. It is recognized that this preparation must come through prayer and complete dedication, study of the Bible and the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy. There is a soul hunger and deep desire for a greater awareness of the presence of our Saviour with us. Yes, a new realization of the very necessity of prayer in personal, family, and church life.
It is to meet these needs of our people as well as ourselves that we conduct the Schools of Prayer. We realize that there must come a new power and dedication to enable us to live victoriously and witness convincingly to the power of the gospel. We cry out in our spiritual needs today as did the disciples, "Lord, teach us to pray." We are instructed, "Let your heart break for the longing it has for God, for the living God. The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have. Then ask and receive with the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, claim for yourself all that God has promised."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 149.
It is possible that even though we have been church members for months or years yet we may not have really become acquainted with God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We may not fully understand the angels' ministry in our prayer life. Perhaps the Master would say to us as He did to Philip, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?" (John 14:9). One of the greatest objectives of the School of Prayer is to help us become really acquainted with God. This acquaintance is essential to our salvation. Said Jesus in His memorable prayer, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3) .
Many who have attended the Schools of Prayer have experienced a new vision and spiritual enlightenment from their fellowship in communion with God such as Job experienced after his direct communion with God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee" (Job 42:5). Following the readings in the book Communion With God and observing the personal prayer season daily will bring to each person an intimate experience and joy in fellowship with the Master. One who has attended a School of Prayer has testified, "It has helped me to have a more vivid sense of the nearness of God when I pray." To attain to this experience is an important objective in conducting these important and profitable Schools of Prayer.
Other contributing objectives are the following: (a) to understand in a larger measure the science of prayer; (b) to recognize more fully the essentials of intelligent praying; (c) to lead to the establishment (or re-establishment) of a pattern or program of personal devotion; (d) to have regular prayer and study of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy; (e) to see the importance of family devotions and learn how best to conduct them.
The School of Prayer endeavors to answer many questions in the minds of our people regarding how prayer is answered, the conditions of answered prayer, and what is presumptuous prayer. Many other kindred questions are dealt with in panel and group discussions. It is well to keep in mind always this wonderful statement, "Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence."—Steps to Christ, pp. 94, 95. Let us learn how to use the "key" properly and successfully. These are the objectives of the School of Prayer.
A. L. H
