Friday Morning Prayer:)… May 10, 2018
May 10, 2018 - 7 minutes readNearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.[1]
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.[1]
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Do you feel the pull? Do you know the supernatural pull or prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray unceasingly? There are those hours and even days that the things of this world, the worries of this life, practical responsibilities, parenting, the workplace, etc. take my thoughts captive and I fail to heed the prompting of the Spirit to draw closer to our gracious God and find rest for my weary soul. Some make it standard practice to schedule the time to draw close to God through prayer and Bible study. Others are not necessarily so punctual but recognize the necessity to spend time pursuing our gracious God. I recognize I have to make time to cry out in prayer and ask constantly for the power of the Spirit to work out this great salvation in my everyday life.
The psalmist reflects the desperate heart. “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”[3] “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.[4] What circumstances create this type of longing for God? Is it a broken heart? Is it the depths of evil all around and/or the absence of devotion to God? The regenerate heart longs for God. Pain and suffering certainly draw me to God. Inconsistencies all around, compromise, a form of godliness, words without substance, drunkenness, gossip, backbiting, anger, hate, money hungry, etc. are all prompting reasons for those in Christ to pursue God in prayer. In Christ, we pray for those without Jesus and heed the call to “flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith.”[5]
My tendency to neglect this great salvation and get caught up in daily routine is when God disrupts. I am thankful for the supernatural disruptions, those necessary convictions of our indwelling God. The arrogant cannot stand in the presence of God, he hates all who do wrong and will destroy those who tell lies. But, I and every truly regenerate heart, by his great mercy bows in reverence.[6] Moreover, “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession−to the praise of his glory.”[7] The apostle Paul encourages us with these inspired words and follows with, “…I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”[8]
To know God better is our most important desire. To have the eyes of our hearts enlightened so we truly grasp the hope to which we are called. Even today we get to experience the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and know his incomparably great power.[9] The same mighty power exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. I need to know God better and his supernatural power to see things as he does, to love as he commands, and to heed the forever prompting of God to pursue him daily, to pray moment by moment, and overflow in sacred song, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
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Sisters are meeting to pray. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited to join faithful gals for a time of encouragement and prayer. Diverse gals from various fellowships who love Jesus and one another gather to ask, seek and knock. If interested, feel free to email me and I will give details and connect you with one of the sisters.
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