Friday Morning Prayer:)… May 7, 2021

May 7, 2021 - 7 minutes read

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.[1]

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.[2]

_______________

In awe, with eyes that see and ears that hear, it is recognized with great humility that every true Christian has been called—God’s grace summoning to salvation. You, me, and every new life in Christ are loved by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.[3] Jesus, prayed, “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to “keep them” from the evil one.”[4] The NIV (1984) uses “protect them.” Beloved, you are kept in the hand of God protected, and guarded against the power of evil, sanctified by the truth, kept unstained by the world, and pursuing our gracious, preserving, ever-present God.

Therefore, I pray you do sing often with confidence, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is [our] story and song! Yes, indeed! Praising my Savior all the day long!”[5] He is the Potter, I am the clay—Yes Lord! Continue to ‘mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.’ “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!”[6] “How can I keep from singing.”[7]

How do I pray fervently? What does it mean? Is it necessary? It seems to me that the fervent prayer includes passionate desire, intense longing, with a humble heart on fire, relying on the Spirit, and expressing as the Spirit leads you before the throne of grace. “…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.”[8] It certainly requires spending undivided time with God—a continual asking, seeking, knocking in faith, (belief, trust). I need your prayers. You need my prayers. We pray individually and together. The Scriptures are clear in saying we are helped through the prayers of many. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”[9]

Psalm 51 reflects a fervent prayer. We read these inspired words that include urgent pleas for forgiveness before our merciful God. The Psalmist confesses his sin and humbly recognizes his need for inward cleansing and spiritual renewal. Reading this Psalm with brothers today, a brother asked, “What does this mean?” “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”[10] What a great opportunity to talk about, as the Spirit moved, the enormity of our sin, and a sorrowful, remorseful, repentant heart before a holy, holy, holy God. And, the mercy of God to cleanse us by the blood of Jesus and make us whiter than snow.

The fervent humble necessary ‘cry out’ in prayer, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”[11] We live in and have our being in Christ mindful of our need for a pure heart. This life, culture, nonsense- subtly and overtly, promotes corruption! I need to live in a repentant mindset and behavior daily. Moreover, I need to be renewed with a steadfast spirit within me by the Holy Spirit daily, even hour by hour. One of the brothers asked, “how do we do that?”

Paul, “…as you have always obeyed… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”[12] And, because we do have encouragement from being united with Christ, are comforted by his love, have fellowship with the Spirit, and experience tenderness and compassion with joy, we strive in his strength to be like-minded. In great humility, we consider others more significant than ourselves and care about the interests of others. By God’s abundant grace we have the attitude of Christ.[13]

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

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[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Have_Thine_Own_Way_Lord/