PRAY TO RECEIVE ENCOURAGEMENT

23, 24. Give examples of prayers that brought receiving of encouragement.

²³ In these days of increased pressures we all need encouragement. Situations develop where one becomes discouraged. Nehemiah was downhearted at the news of Jerusalem’s lack of wall protection. He prayed about the matter. “It came about that, as soon as I heard these words, I sat down and began to weep and mourn for days, and I was continually fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.” (Neh. 1:4) Nehemiah’s prayer brought results. The Persian king commissioned him to go to Jerusalem to supervise its wall construction.

²⁴ In California a father and a son came into the truth and became dedicated, but not so the mother. In time the mother became ill with heart trouble, and was given only a short time to live. The father and son became very downhearted. Finally, in their sorrow they prayed to Jehovah for help that the mother would become a believer. Soon the mother began to make inquiries as to the Bible. In her remaining days she embraced the truth, witnessed by means of the telephone, and died with a hope of living in the new order of things. Yes, the earnest prayers of the father and son brought results. Both father and son are now full-time pioneer ministers.

PRAYER IN TIMES OF DANGER

25, 26. How have prayers offered in times of danger been answered?

²⁵ Times of extreme danger bring need for urgent prayer. Jonah was in such extreme danger in the belly of the big fish, from where he prayed. It is written: “Then Jonah prayed to Jehovah his God from the inward parts of the fish.” (Jonah 2:1) Jonah’s deliverance was the answer to that prayer.

²⁶ On April 8, 1963, in South Dakota a dedicated witness of Jehovah and her two daughters were all dressed, ready to attend the local congregation meeting for the annual Memorial service in connection with Christ’s death. All of a sudden her opposing husband stood in the doorway with a loaded shotgun pointed at her to prevent her from leaving the house. In this desperate situation she immediately prayed silently to Jehovah. After some minutes her husband began to calm down. He listened to her earnest appeal and finally permitted her to attend the closing part of the Memorial service. Her prayer brought further results in that her husband is now more tolerant and listens to explanations of the Bible.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS

27, 28. Why are prayers as to organizational problems necessary?

²⁷ Even Jesus found it necessary to pray to solve organizational problems. It is written that Jesus prayed the night before he made the organizational appointment of his twelve apostles, to ascertain the divine will. (Luke 6:12, 13) Jesus thus received the mind of Jehovah on the matter before he announced the twelve appointments.

²⁸ A minister of Jehovah’s witnesses was sent to serve where the need is great as a congregation overseer in a small town in California. The circuit servant told him that this congregation was known as a “trouble congregation,” but no one knew why. After the very first meeting he attended, their coldness confirmed that difficulties existed. The new congregation servant repeatedly prayed about this organizational problem. In a few weeks evidence of immorality was revealed that necessitated the disfellowshiping of a sister and the putting of two others on probation. Not only were these prayers answered in producing a cleansed congregation, but in the second year the congregation had a 40-percent increase in ministers preaching from house to house.

FURTHER ADVANTAGES AND BLESSINGS

29-31. (a) Present some further advantages and blessings brought by prayer. (b) What follow-up must there be to prayer?

²⁹ The above are only a few of the many different occasions and situations in which Jehovah’s witnesses today approach Jehovah’s “house of prayer” for help. With all these petitions there have also ascended, like incense, warm expressions of love and praise together with thanksgiving to Jehovah the Hearer of prayer. Are there any further advantages in worshiping Jehovah by means of prayer? Yes, there are. Prayer continually draws one close to Jehovah. (Jas. 4:8) Thus one gains an intimate fellowship with the Father, our great life source. Prayer keeps one’s heart clean and strong. There is nothing that one withholds from his great Friend in heaven. With an open heart and a clear conscience true communication with our God is maintained.

³⁰ Prayer brings Jehovah’s abiding peace upon one. Without this peace no lasting success is possible. Jehovah’s support is assured through prayer. Prayer also results in an increased flow of Jehovah’s spirit upon one. These are days when physical might or brain power do not assure Har–Magedon safety. Rather, it is those who have been guided by Jehovah’s spirit that come off victorious. (Zech. 4:6) It is prayer that brings true courage. It brings, likewise, an optimistic outlook. Prayer is the means by which one maintains a strong tie of dedication to Jehovah. God hears the daily calls of his dedicated servants. He grants answers to such prayers that are in harmony with his will and Word.

³¹ Remember, it is not the abundance of words that counts in saying “Lord, Lord.” (Matt. 7:21-23) But it is the following up of the prayer with positive action in doing God’s will that counts. Whether we are dedicated ones of the anointed remnant or are of the “other sheep,” let all of us, young and old, male and female, “carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit.” As a praying people let us delight for all time to come to worship Jehovah our God in his “house of prayer.”

Sunday-School Teacher Aided

ONE of Jehovah’s witnesses attending an assembly in Kansas placed the Watchtower and Awake! magazines with a woman who was a Sunday-school teacher. The woman used the coupons on the back of the magazines to subscribe for both, realizing they would help her with her teaching work. As the magazines started to come, she noticed the coupon about the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. She wrote the Society, asking for ten of the new Bibles for her class. When she received the Bibles, she thought the minister might not let her use them if he knew who the publishers were, so she tore out the pages with the publisher’s identity. Her interest mounted as each magazine came to her home.

Almost a year later, she was again contacted by a Witness, who was invited in. “I’ve been expecting someone from your organization to call on me,” she told the Witness bubbling over with enthusiasm from the things she had learned. Immediately a Bible study was started in the book “Let God Be True.” The interested woman started attending meetings and sharing in the house-to-house ministry. When she gave up her church affiliation, her Sunday-school replacement inquired as to where she had gotten the green Bibles, as she wanted to obtain more, since they were so easy to understand. As a result, this new publisher took the opportunity to give a witness, and the Sunday-school replacement became interested and began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses.