Friday Morning Prayer:)… April 26, 2018
April 26, 2018 - 7 minutes readI need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;”[1]
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Am I worldly? Do I trust the things inherent in this world? The challenge given this past Sunday was to overcome my tendency toward worldliness (trusting in material things, relying on my own strength, indulging in the flesh, reflecting worldly ways of selfishness, arrogance, pride, anger, etc.) and continually “be in the kingdom of Jesus”[2]. “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”[3] Every redeemed person through the blood of the Lamb resists the worldliness and the world system and desires to do the will of God. It is a high and supernatural call to genuinely love others. Only in Christ can we possibly love as God intends. “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”[4] Beloved, a daily surrender, my life and yours too, surrendered to our merciful God. We encourage one another and pray constantly for the power of God to be manifest in and through our transformed lives.
In contrast to worldliness, complacency, and an undisciplined life, we pursue what is better and supernatural. I need a baptism of boldness! I have the Spirit of God indwelling! In Christ, you do too! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our call is to reach the lost. You know that longing desire to share the gospel. Our indwelling God is our most precious, joyful, powerful, and supernatural gift that inevitably has to be shared. The power of God in Christ is full of mercy and grace. People need this supernatural gift from God, our salvation through our Lord Jesus.
In contrast to self-sufficiency, our call is to constantly pray, to be in communion with our merciful God every moment of every day. Our God indwells! I ask for the grace to listen and allow the Spirit to lead my every step, capture every thought, to orchestrate every word according to Thy will. Indeed, we sing, “I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.” O God increase my desire to pray and do what is better, the necessity for secret prayer and disciplined time with God. Be ye encouraged to live up to what you have already attained in Christ and keep going. I pray for you, and you pray for me that we know better our God and his indwelling power for us who believe. Press on! God has got you; now pursue him in his power.
Finally, I do not want “my” life to interfere with my relationship with God. My prayers are hindered by my sin. My sin grieves the Holy Spirit. It happens, yet the fight continues. Fight the good fight of faith! Love others and be loved in the context of family in Christ. Brother/Sister, continue to seek the Lord. Be encouraged to live out this living faith. Work out this great salvation with fear and trembling before our merciful God who is holy, holy, holy. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him”[5] Humble we strive in his power. We confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.[6]
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
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Sisters are meeting to pray. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. 0900. Alpine.
You are invited. Week after week our sisters in Christ gather to pray and encourage one another. If you have a free hour or so on Friday morning, go join for a time of prayer.
Brothers are meeting too! Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. 0730. Alpine.
You are invited to join brothers in Christ for a sweet hour of prayer. A joy when brothers get together and ask, seek, knock before the throne of grace. Diverse brothers united at the cross in the power of God we pray. If you can’t make it, pray with us as the Spirit leads you.
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