Friday Morning Prayer:)… October 22, 2021
October 22, 2021 - 6 minutes readWhat a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.[1]
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”[2]
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The process of growing in grace. Growing in grace is synonymous with the sanctification process. Peter tells believers to be on guard so that they are not carried away by erroneous teaching and fall from their secure position. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”[3] In Christ, your regenerate heart and mine too is set apart, growing in holiness, pursuing joy, and making diligent efforts to love in thoughts and reactions. Daily, even moment by moment, I ask for Holy Spirit power to choose to be humble and reflect in overflowing measure, fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”[4] Jesus said that the Father cuts off every branch that bears no fruit; however, every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
Pruning, although necessary for my growth according to God’s grace, is difficult and painful. It is hard to see the bigger picture in the midst of struggle, suffering, uncertainty—our sovereign God caring for his own, molding and shaping you, me, and every genuine believer into the image of Jesus through our trials and tribulations. Peter recognized, “… you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”[5]
My heart ached tonight. A brother at the men’s home is suffering. His eyesight is minimal, his kidney function has decreased to the point where he will need dialysis. I am thankful for God’s sovereign hand causing our paths to cross 12+ years ago. He faithfully attends our meetings, I pray with him, encourage him to persevere, and draw close to Jesus. My prayer for all the men God has brought into my sphere of influence, and you too, is that they and you because of the Spirit of God indwelling, will readily with joy and strong conviction, echo with the suffering psalmist,
“Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? Though you have made me see many troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.”[6]
Whatever type of suffering, pruning process God is putting you through it is for a meaningful necessary purpose. For some, it is the shout of God unto repentance and the death of a self-focused life to a fully surrendered new life in Christ as Savior and Lord. For others it is the pruning unto holiness—set apart from the world and recurring sinful patterns. For me, it is just that—I need to rely on God at every turn and cry out in prayer continually for supernatural power to live this Christian life well and engage with effort in the process of growing in grace to God’s glory. Join me! Sister/brother, lean, lean, lean on the everlasting arms! Let’s encourage one another all the more as we see the Day approaching.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
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Friday Morning Prayer! Join us if your schedule allows. First Baptist Church 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine.
Sisters are meeting at 0900
Brothers meet at 0730
Brotherhood breakfast—this Saturday morning 10/24/21 @ 0800 First Baptist Church, Alpine.
[1]https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Leaning_on_the_Everlasting_Arms/
2] 1 Peter 5:6-7
3] 2 Peter 3:18
4] John 15:5
5] 1 Peter 1:6-7
6] Psalm 71:19-21
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