Friday Morning Prayer:)… January 13, 2022
January 14, 2022 - 5 minutes readWhat a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.[1]
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”[2]
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What is it that makes it so ‘sweet to walk in this pilgrim way?’ The Christian life is a tough continual pursuit to develop character and hope that does not disappoint because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.[3] The trials, testing, pain, sufferings, brokenness, loss, grief, heartache, disappointments, ailments, etc. inherent in this life do not go away because we walk in this pilgrim’s way. Continually leaning on the everlasting arms makes this walk sweet with ever-increasing sweetness as we stay the gospel course.
Is it true for you, the words of the hymn? “…all that thrills my soul is Jesus, he is more than life to me….”[4] The sweetness of your Christ-life is fellowship and joy divine with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This pursuit reflects great effort to live a life worthy of the calling you, and me, have received. Only in Christ can I, and you too, be completely humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love.[5] Paul speaks to the truly regenerate heart, “Surely you heard him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self… to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”[6]
Beloved, this pursuit, desire, motivation, the good fight of faith, originates from those God has called and supernaturally changed. “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Therefore, we strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to, “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”[7]
Christ defines who I am. My identity, and yours too, is new in Christ. I am not the old man anymore! We see and understand from a divine perspective. Through the desert experiences, the struggles, sufferings, heartache, the experienced brokenness, pain serves to develop, especially as we lean on the everlasting arms, I learn, I am being refined, cleansed, it hurts! We cry out! “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”[8]
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
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You are invited,
Friday Morning Prayer:)… First Baptist Church—1912 Arnold Way, Alpine
Gals meeting at 0900
Brothers meet at 0730.
Join us for a time of encouragement and intentional prayer. The brothers end at 0830. Always a joy to see the brothers!
Thank you, sisters. Your devotion to prayer is much valued and necessary help.
[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Leaning_on_the_Everlasting_Arms/
[2] Acts 1:8
[3] Romans 5:3-5
[4] https://hymnary.org/text/all_that_thrills_my_soul_is_jesus
[5] Ephesians 4:1-2
[6] Ibid 21-24
[7] Ephesians 5:8-10
[8] Psalm 130:1-2
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