Friday Morning Prayer:)… February 3, 2017
February 2, 2017 - 7 minutes readRock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.[1]
“Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”[2]
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Family in Christ,
I was comforted and challenged by Psalm 32 as I sought the Lord. “A maskil” an instructive psalm, even instructing us toward godliness.
The gift of forgiveness! Joy! Blessed! Blessed! Happy! This joy is supernatural and experienced by the transformed heart who longs for the presence of God in the midst of every circumstance. Those times of rebellion, compromise, disregard for godliness, or yielding to carnal and worldly behavior certainly has not completely ended for any of us indwelled by the Spirit. We continue to battle against our sinful nature.
A brother mentioned this past weekend how his sins, past, present, and future have been forgiven through Christ. Yes indeed. Moreover, in Christ, we are saved, being saved, and going to be saved. Our “being saved” reminds me of the salvation process, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”[3] Like the psalmist David, when I keep silent about my sinful ways, thoughts, words, there follows depression, guilt, feeling sapped of strength. However, engaging in prayer, relying on God, “being saved” rescued from emotional turmoil through confessing my sin before our holy God brings restoration and overt joy through forgiveness.
I do not want to rest in my understanding of obtaining salvation by trusting Christ as Lord! Nor do you! Yes I have been forgiven and rest saved, yet I am being saved and Christ indwells and God works in me to will and act according to his good purpose. Therefore, I long to know Jesus better, to allow him to live through me in the power of the Spirit. Beloved, you in Jesus and he in you desire that too! To love others with great patience, and compassion, to be bold when necessary in presenting the gospel, to know, study, and apply the Scriptures, to earnestly pray for wisdom and forget my own notions of what was, is, and will be. Our supernatural call unto salvation is an ongoing process to make us more like Jesus! To live this life, act and react in his strength! Hope is full assurance! Beyond a shadow of a doubt confidence of an eventual culmination and completed salvation residing in the presence of God!
“…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”[4]
Today is the day of salvation! You and me are called to a Christ centered holy life. All other ground is sinking sand! Through prayer, hence, actively pursuing our God, he too pursues us and does protect us many times over! Our Sovereign hiding place who protects from overwhelming trouble and surrounds you and me with songs of deliverance. I do not know the way to go or how to handle this circumstance, that crisis, another life decision. Our God, especially as we earnestly ask, seek, knock, “…will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;” God, “…will counsel you and watch over you.”[5]
Do I long for his counsel and direction? Lord, help me overcome my self-determination, recurring pride, and failure to seek you through everything I’ve been called to endure.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
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Sisters are meeting to pray! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited! Through the prayers of many the help of God is manifest. God calls us to earnestly pray and do so always. Therefore, if you have Friday morning free for an hour or so, consider joining gals, especially if you are a Christian and love Jesus, to love one another and pray together.
Brothers are gathering to pray too! Grace Fellowship. 2225 W. Victoria. Alpine. 0730.
Christian brothers are invited! Join us for a sweet hour of prayer! We seek our gracious God through prayer. We worship in song as the Spirit leads. Always expressing love toward one another because of Jesus working through us! Don’t hesitate. No expectations or requirements beyond the manifest grace of God. The air we breathe brother!
Your brother,
Randall:)…
[1] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Rock_of_Ages/
[2] Psalm 32:6-7
[3] Philippians 2:12-13
[4] 1 Corinthians 2:9-10a
[5] Psalm 32:6-8
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