Friday Morning Prayer:). April 21, 2016

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of thy redeeming love.[1]

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”[2]
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Fellow Sojourners,

How necessary I spend time with God! As the old hymn reflects the reality of my human tendency, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;…” Therefore, we sing all the more, longing for intimacy, sweet fellowship in the midst of our struggles, crying out day and night, “Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.”[3]

Beloved, allow me to encourage you, and myself, to pursue our God with a persistence. In Christ, you know with ever increasing confidence, our strength to endure comes from communion and fellowship with our heavenly Father, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Without a doubt I find reassurance and encouragement in expressing my struggles in prayer-songs with fellow wander-prone believers. My heart rejoices and breaks with sisters and brothers who endure the temporary sufferings in this life. I appreciate those who faithfully come along side and encourage perseverance. Truly, I do not want to drift, but value much the Scripture that keeps motivating, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”[4]

Like the psalmist, we “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!”[5] Moreover, “Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me.”[6] Our gracious God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Those of old needed God, we need God in and through our ever changing circumstances, victories, heart-aches, and overwhelming struggles. Our depraved and wander-prone heart humbly echoes the psalmist, “I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;…”[7]

Through your journey today, tomorrow, this week, you will come across someone who is struggling. It may be a recognition that intimacy with God is failing, their joy is diminished, the stress inherent in this life is overwhelming. Many times folks are broken by sinful behavior and poor choices, the flesh dominating, heart nearly hardened. The paradox of the Christian life has become evident. “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”[8]

Our churches, neighborhoods, socials, workplaces, etc., are full of opportunities to encourage repentance, persistence, and much prayer. Today, as you are reading this brief reflection, I pray you are encouraged to “…always pray and not give up.”[9] Moreover, not only encouraged but motivated to encourage others to persevere In Christ!
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Sisters are meeting to pray! You are invited. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900,

Week after week gals joining to pray together and encourage one another. A persistence we are grateful to share and say thank you! May the power of God overflow and bless the time devoted to seeking His face on behalf of many.

Brothers are meeting too! Grace Christian Fellowship. (@ Alpine Community Church) 2225 W. Victoria Dr. Alpine. 0730. Parking in back.

Come join us! We value and appreciate brothers devoted to Christ! A joy to my heart to experience the love and encouragement from like-minded brothers sold out for the gospel! We devote to a sweet hour of prayer. Share and encourage for about 15 min. Then we ask, seek, and knock with great intention and expectation as the Holy Spirit helps and empowers our brief time together. No pressure. Pray in silence, sing a song of joy, holy praise, or just take it all in and allow your heart to be encouraged. You are invited!
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Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.

Your Brother In Christ,

Randall:).

[1] http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh400.sht
[2] Luke 18:1
[3] https://www.hymnal.net Come, Thou Fount of every blessing.
[4] Hebrews 3:13
[5] Psalm 81:1
[6] Ibid. 70:1
[7] Ibid 77:1-2a
[8] Romans 7:21-23
[9] Luke 18:1b