Friday Morning Prayer:) July 30, 2020
July 30, 2020 - 8 minutes readI’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.[1]
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”[2]
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The process of keeping separate, set apart to the glory of God, yet engaged. You and me are called to be set apart from the world system in which we reside. What does that mean? It means that God who is rich in mercy supernaturally changed the motivations of your heart and the direction of your life. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit of who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”[3] You have been made alive with Christ and given new desires, interests, values, and supernatural love. You and me are not of this world system, where there is no room for God, but sent into it. “Not of, but sent into.”[4] We rejoice in and rely on the power of God indwelling to resist the Devil, the cravings of the sinful nature, and worldly pleasures contrary to our new life in Christ.[5]
Yes! Yes, but I still struggle! To walk, talk, be in, and overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit. You know those day to day choices, thoughts, responses, and behaviors less than glorifying to God. Oh, the failures to deny and malnourish to death those impulses, enticing temptations, and sinful nature pleasures that inevitably hinder the most satisfying delightful, joy, peace, supernatural love, and fellowship with God. “…When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members….” God moves your regenerate heart and mine to the anguished cry, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?”[6]
“I lift my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, [Yahweh] the Maker of heaven and earth.”[7]
“…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”[8] Beloved, we prayerfully sing together before the throne of grace, ‘I want to live above the world, Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of the saints on higher ground.’ Be ye encouraged! The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.[9] Moreover, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”[10]
Engage with me with increasing joy and supernatural power in this supernatural process. Our high calling, the obligation is to put to death the misdeeds of the body and live, work-out this life in Christ, by God’s power and to his glory. My prayer for you and me is an increased discernment, spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear with ever-increasing ability to recognize and change, repent from sinful ways of thinking, being, expressing. We plead in prayer together: I need your power Lord, help me to constantly dwell in your presence, mindfully in communion hearing, you, even through genuine Spirit-led believers—help us to discern, embrace and overflow your love, grace, kindness in partnership with every regenerate heart sent into the world offering mercy, reconciliation, joy, hope… to the broken, blinded, wayward, and confused —the many in desperate need of redemption through Jesus.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
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Sisters are meeting to pray together! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine, 0900
If you are free Friday morning join precious sisters in Jesus for a time of encouragement and prayer. Thank you! We appreciate the much-needed prayer and cries of dependence and reliance on our sovereign God.
Brothers are meeting too! Mt. View Bible. 2710 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine. 0730
Join us! Oh, the necessity to join in prayer and express love and encouragement toward one another. If you can’t make it, please pray for us and with us as we bring our prayers of supplication, praises, and thanksgiving before the throne of grace.
We will have Zoom connection for those able to join in that fashion… all good in the Spirit.
[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Higher_Ground/
[2] Romans 7:24-25
[3] Ephesians 2:1-2
[4] Let’s Revise the Popular Phrase “In, But Not Of”
Let’s Revise the Popular Phrase “In, But Not Of”Let’s revise the popular phrase “in the world, but not of the world.” Christians are not of this world, to be su…
[5] James 4:7-10; 1 John 3:1
[6] Romans 7:21-24
[7] Psalm 121:1
[8] Ibid 8:1-2
[9] Ibid 8:6
[10] Ibid 8:26
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