Friday Morning Prayer:)… June 22, 2017
June 22, 2017 - 9 minutes readSweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
_____________
Beloved in Jesus,
Week after week, day after day, moment after moment I long to be refreshed through prayer. O what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! In my mind’s eye, in my self-talk, in my thoughts, in everything our God is present. At times this truth is most joyful, at other times tears flow. An obvious undeserved love of God, yet for us, in Christ, “…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…”[2] despite myself. The ongoing pursuit of God, a life dictated by Spirit filled, Spirit lead disciplined prayer. My calling, yours too! However, I resist when I consider prayer as a duty, as though somehow “I must do” to gain acceptance or experience the God of all comfort. No! Earnest prayer is a necessity as is food for the body, or the air we breathe, prayer to nurture, empower, feed the hungering soul through the power of God!
The power of the indwelling Spirit to facilitate worship and prompt a genuine heartfelt adoration for God. Yes! “Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;”[3] The psalmist lived out adoration and we have the inspired words to help us adore and praise our God! “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.”[4] “Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”[5]
I daily recognize my sin before our holy God. The holy standard is too high to attain in my depraved state, especially in this earthly life. There is a “knowing” and “unknowing” offense, whether in deed or thought, I fail daily. Therefore, a humble and contrite heart before God in necessary prayer. A confession of the recurring stains and allocation of the cleansing through the blood of the Lamb. The psalmist knew firsthand the discipline of God for the stubborn silence of unacknowledged sin! However, he also experienced blessed relief after a transparent confessing heart before God in prayer. “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.”[6]
I am thankful for the cross! In Christ, you are too! We shout in harmony, “Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, thank you, Lord, for making me whole, thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free!”[7] Again! Yes! Our prayers, public and private are full of “thanks” to our glorious gracious God! Beloved, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”[8]
In earnest prayer, ask-seek-knock. A continuous asking, seeking, and knocking before the throne of grace. Faith keeps me crying out! You too! This is not a blind faith! No! A supernatural living faith, ever strengthened, a blessed assurance that God, through our Lord Jesus, and in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, makes prayer essential for our new life in Christ! Indeed, earnest prayer to revive the struggling soul, the longing for supernatural power to endure this difficult life in every context through varied forms and degrees. Our God hears our prayers! Yes! In Christ, God hears every supplication, every humble cry in desperation and glorious praise!
Beloved, rejoice! Together we, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”[9] So cool! God Almighty! The Creator of all things seen and unseen, he dwells within us and helps us pray effectively to bring glory, honor, and praise to himself! He is the potter, we are the clay! I depend on God for everything, you do too! In everything by prayer, especially for a growing overflowing desire for prevailing prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
_______________
Sisters are meeting to pray! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
If you have a free hour in the AM, join faithful gals for a time of encouragement and prayer. My prayer is that you have a regular time of prayer with sisters in Christ. Of course we need our prayer closets and earnest secret prayer. However, may your heart be strengthened as you meet with like-minded sisters in Jesus, here, there, or wherever our Lord leads you. Joy! Check it out!
Brothers are meeting too! Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0730.
Faithful brothers representing various fellowships join to pray and encourage one another. Week after week, many or few, we gather to cry out, sustained by our gracious God, humble before the throne of grace, we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead our sweet hour of prayer. Brothers in Jesus are welcome! No requirements, not expectations, just a love for Jesus, and a love for the brethren, and a desire to earnestly pray as the Spirit leads.
Your brother,
Randall:)…
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