Friday Morning Prayer:)… August 20, 2020

August 20, 2020 - 7 minutes read

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are![1]

Come let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.[2]

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How are you relating with God?  Do I really believe my purpose includes enjoying God?  “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.  For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor, you exalt our horn.” (a symbol of power) [3]  Indeed!  “What is the chief end of man?  Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”[4]  You and me are created and uniquely designed to be in relationship with God our Father through Jesus the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, we are designed to relate with God personally, glorify him with our lives as we rely on his power, even the supernatural reality of the Spirit helping us to cry out in prayer, shout praises and sing a new song as we overcome, and enjoy relating with our gracious God—declaring his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.[5]

I am weak, and it is okay!  We are empowered, and cry out for that constant overflowing Spirit power to put to death the misdeeds of the body and be led by the Spirit of God all the time.  When this life is overwhelming and the burdens heavy, God, the Spirit intercedes for us, he helps you and me in our weaknesses—I just don’t know!  I can’t speak words.  Therefore, the Spirit groans—our frailty the means of his pleading on our behalf.  “Inarticulate feelings of inadequacy and vaguely conceived yearnings—the groans become the very voice of the Spirit in intercession.”[6]   “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”[7]

There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!  Beloved, find supernatural comfort in this glorious truth today and trust with revealing transparency and an evidently humble tone. “What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”[8]  I pray you, and me too, experience an ever-increasing marvel at the wonder of it all!  O’er us sin no more hath dominion—For more than conqu’rors we are!

Pray with confidence we do!  Yes, I do believe that God hears my words, groans, sighs, and responds according to his most gracious will.  Moreover, the humble plea to have spiritual ears to listen with confidence and readily recognize, sense, and enjoy God, especially as we walk in obedience.  Oh, the necessary pursuit, and need for daily encouraging reminders to relate intimately with God where prayer is as natural as breathing.  Indeed! In him, we move and have our being—every inhale infused with his presence and every exhale an extension of his love.[9]

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

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Sisters are meeting to pray!  First Baptist.  1912 Arnold Way, Alpine, 0900.

You are invited!  If your schedule allows, go join with kind, supportive, full of grace, our sisters in Jesus.  A time of encouragement and prayer as the Spirit leads fellowship and prayer together.

Brothers are meeting too!  Mt. View Bible.  2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine, 0730.

Yes! The tremendous value of brothers gathering to pray.  You are invited.  We meet for an hour to love, encourage, listen, and pray.  We certainly will sing a hymn or a spiritual song as the Spirit leads.  No pressure, just know you are missed if you haven’t been in a while.  With our current social distancing and regulations, we are giving brothers the opportunity to join via the Zoom platform as well.  

Zoom works great!  Email me if you need the link to join.  Listen, share, and pray.  A blessing indeed!


[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Turn_Your_Eyes_upon_Jesus/

 [2] Psalm 95:1-2

[3] Psalm 89:15-17

[4] https://bpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/d-scatechism.pdf

[5] Psalm 96:3-4

[6] International Bible Commentary (1979)  F.F. Bruce (Ed) 

[7] Romans 8:26-27

[8] Romans 8:31

[9] Feinberg, Margaret (2008)  the Sacred echo.  Zondervan.