Friday Morning Prayer:). June 16, 2016

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.[1]

“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. If you, O Lord kept a record of sins, O Lord who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”[2]
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Faithful In Christ,

I shared yesterday morning with a brother my ongoing tension with living in our culture where I depend on so many comforts. A degree of worldliness, yet desiring to walk in holiness. Tension. Early yesterday morning I heard the words from my beloved spouse, “we have a problem.” She was referring to a plumbing problem. My day was already in motion, I thought, I can’t deal with this problem right now. In my humanness the tendency is to react and become anxious. Tension. You understand, whether a drain problem, interpersonal, financial, emotional, recurring sin, etc., this life can be overwhelming, full of trials, circumstances disrupting my comfort and challenging my faith. So often, “…O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.”

I seriously doubt if this tension will completely go away while battling in this life. The ongoing struggle, the good fight of faith to walk in the Spirit and die to the flesh tendencies is our daily process. Therefore, when I fail, pretty much daily, I am thankful I am compelled to pray, even cry out for mercy. You too? The psalmist recognized the great divide between our holy God and sinful mankind, especially himself. He was able to stand in holy awe because our gracious God forgives. Moreover, no record of sins! The Apostle John encourages us, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”[3]

Truly, “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!”

In light of our holy, holy, holy God I hear John, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” However, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”[4] Therefore, I do cry out recognizing my sins, even hidden faults confessing daily before our holy God, cleansed, forgiven through the cross. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”[5] How necessary to humbly take everything to the Lord in prayer, beginning with my sinful tendencies.

Yesterday morning in meeting with a brother we were able to pray together about my plumbing problem. By the afternoon I successfully made contact with another faithful brother who met me after work to begin the process to resolve the plumbing problem. Be ye encouraged! God hears our prayers and cares about your unique life process. In awe we come before the throne with humble confidence! Moreover, God is forming and shaping who I am In Christ, you too! As we persevere, John reminds us, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man [woman] who does the will of God lives forever. [!]. Yes!

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
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Sisters are meeting at First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
The Joy! You are invited to join gals from various churches gathering to intentionally pray as the Holy Spirit leads. Thank you faithful sisters!

Brothers are meeting at First Baptist. 0730.
You are invited to join fellas for a time of encouragement and the pursuit of our gracious God! Yes! Join us to live out what we profess: to love others in relationship, to encourage and spur one another on! No expectations, no requirements, just a willingness to humbly pray and love the Lord your God with all you got! Brothers pray in silence, some express, some lead us in song, or we might be still before our God… we strive in His strength to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. A sweet hour of prayer.

To God be the Glory!

Your brother,

Randall:).

[1] https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/789
[2] Psalm 130:1-4
[3] 1 John 1:7
[4] Ibid. v. 8-9
[5] Ibid. 2:2