Friday Morning Prayer:). June 18, 2015

June 18, 2015 - 5 minutes read

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.[1]

“…Thank you oh my Father for giving us your Son… leaving your Spirit ‘til your work on earth is done… when I stand in glory I will see His face then I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place… Thank you oh my Father…”[2]

Brothers and Sisters In Christ,

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”[3]

The question was asked yesterday among brothers at our weekly gathering, “where are you in your journey with Christ?” The purpose of meeting with brothers is to learn to be transparent, vulnerable, honest… to intentionally pursue accountability and encourage growth, maturity, excitement, overflowing love! Yes! Diverse guys united in our shared faith. I pray you too are pursuing loving, supportive, relationships In Christ. It is clear to me that God designed us to join with brothers or sisters to be encouraged, stir one another toward love and good deeds, carry burdens, pray unceasing, etc., I need you! You need me! WE need each other!

Beloved, be encouraged! Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. He knows what it is like to do battle against temptation, sinful, worldly, seemingly pleasurable invites…. Our Lord Jesus cried out to God demonstrating for us our necessity to bring our fears, distress, anxious thoughts to our gracious God in fervent prayer.

Like Jesus, in reverent submission we pray “thy will be done,” even as we take up our cross, humbly, we surrender everything to our God who gives everything we need. The Hebrew writer reminds us that Jesus struggled in prayer and was empowered, strengthened to bear the cross for our sake.

To God’s glory through Christ we too are empowered to bear our trials, take up our cross daily, live victoriously over the lure of the flesh, constant temptation to compromise, even the temptation to neglect such a great salvation. Beloved, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”[4]

Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Sisters are meeting to pray together! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. 0900. Join our sisters In Christ to love each other, pray for one another, lift our churches, pastors, leaders, communities… etc., before the throne with confidence! :).

Brothers are meeting too! We too are meeting at First Baptist. 0730. Join brothers to laugh, cry, rejoice, be silent, … intentionally we gather to allow God the Holy Spirit to lead our short hour of prayer. You are invited! Come with a sense of expectation… If you can’t make it… pray with us wherever God has you during this time. Love you!

Your Brother,

LoVe Others! MUCH!

Randall:).

[1] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/He_Leadeth_Me/
[2] http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/k/keith_green/there_is_a_redeemer.html
[3] Hebrews 5:7
[4] Hebrews 4:16