Friday Morning Prayer:)… September 15, 2016
September 15, 2016 - 7 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!
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![1]
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.[2]
_______________________
Beloved,
Thankful! We fight for our joy! Pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. Why? Because ‘In Christ” this is what God wills for our lives.[3] I dread the days that my worship, prayer process, good works become mechanical, even writing words of encouragement, a going through the motions without the sense of Spirit’s presence. Honestly, there are days like that. Therefore, we fight! My prayer, truly my heart’s desire and overflowing joy for us is to experience an ever evolving desire to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Yes! Sister/brother, “Fight the good fight of the faith….”[4]
In one sense, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;”[5] addresses the tendency to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. My son honestly said, ‘I do not want to pray because I ask for forgiveness and turn around and do the same thing.’ Yes. Sin has the ability to quench the Spirit and my son recognized he would be going through the motions, yet feeling like he was being less than genuine. Well, we all struggle, but how necessary we continue to fight in prayer. Our daily needs for forgiveness, guidance, and protection. God is our perpetual source of comfort, especially on those days when we feel lonely, forsaken, depressed, hypocritical, or just mechanical.
The psalms help us to see the genuineness of pursuing God in prayer: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God…. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame… Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from old.”[6]
“Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.”[7]
As I encouraged my son, so too I want to encourage you! When we are struggling, we fight! We lean on our family In Christ. We meditate on Scripture and submit to God in obedience. Humble, we pursue our gracious God. Our feelings can be fickle. We know the gospel and live to glorify God. In His strength we avoid being polluted by the world and pursue holiness. Others know we are Christians because of the love we have for one another. Stand on the promise, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”[8]
______________________
Sisters are meeting to pray! Joy! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited! How powerful is our God through the faithfulness of sisters obediently seeking Him in prayer? Yes! We pray and wait in expectation for our sovereign God to orchestrate as He determines. I was encouraged this week by a sister in our fellowship who attends the prayer group. Their faithfulness to encourage one another and to intentionally pray during their time together. As the Spirit leads! Diverse ladies meeting together to humbly pray. If you know gals in your fellowship, please make them aware of this sweet hour of prayer. Thankful!
Brothers are meeting to ask, seek, knock! Yes! First Baptist. 3rd Friday 0730.
You are welcome to join us for a time of encouragement, necessary prayer, and as always, sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading. Brothers have been meeting for a good season and we strive to stay consistent in our intention to pray. Always sweet fellowship just prior and after our time of prayer. Join us! Humble before the throne!
___________________________
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!
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!”
Your brother In Christ,
Randall:)…
[1]http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/h/shop.htm
[2] James 1:2-4
[3] 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
[4] 1 Timothy 6:11-12
[5] 1 Thessalonians 5:19
[6] Psalm 25:1-3a; 4-6
[7] Ibid. v. 7
[8] James 4:7-8a
0 Comments