Another hymn which speaks about prayer is Father hear the prayer we offer; written by Love Marie Willis. I like the fact that the hymn writer acknowleges that there is up times and down times. Here is one of the verses:
Let our path be bright or dreary,
storm or sunshine be our share;
may our souls , in hope unweary,
make thy work our ceaseless prayer.
Love Marie Willis (1824-1908)
This is a name of a hymn written by a Moravian James Montgomery. James was a poet writer and again like "What a friend in Jesus" was later put to Music. In this classic hymn, there is about 7 or 8 verses in that describes what prayer means. I like the following verse which tells us that prayer is very much a neccessary part of the Christian: "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire, James Montgomery (1771-1854)
The Christians native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer."
The Hymn "What a friend in Jesus" was originally written by Joseph Scriven as poem which was entitled "Pray without ceasing". It wasnt until he was on his deathbed that his carer discovered the the poem and was later put to music by Charles Converse (1832-1918) . Joseph knew trials and tradegy as he was nearly married twice but the twice the bride died a day or so before the wedding. This hymns is a real encouragement for us to bring all to such a faithful friend:
What a Friend We have in Jesus
All our Sins and griefs to bear!
What a privelege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be disocuraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus Knows our every weakness
-Take it to the Lord in Prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious saviour still our refuge!
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms he' ll take and shield thee
Thou wilt find a solace
there!
Joseph Scriven (1819-86)
Came accross this post from Brian Ingraham, leader of RE:HOPE in Glasgow about need to remember our encouragments when we go through down times. To view it click here
mmm... What is all this about, I hear you say! We have different ways of remembering things like tie a knot in a hankerchief. Yesterday's sermon at church was on prayer & action. We were given a gimmick to remind us to pray! We were all given sticky spots to stick somewhere that we would see and then it would remind us to pray for folks from our prayer list. You can stick it on your watch or your thumb. So hence the title of this post - Remember to pray on the dot when you see the spot!
This is the title of the Hymn written by a lady by the name of Frances Harvergal. Looked up the background of this hymn the other day. The hymn writer is offering all that she was unto the Lord whom she loved. She had been through trials, tribulation and pain. Even long after she had written the hymn, she still prayed through each line in this hymn seeking to make it a reality in her life. I want to bring your attention to verse 4:Take my silver & my gold,
not a mite, I would I withold;
take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
As Frances wrote & indeed Prayed "Take my silver & my gold" she was I'm sure seeking God to see how she could take action. She did take action. She took her 50 fine pieces of Jewellry and gave them to the Womens Missionary Society.
Lets give all that we are unto God but be prepared to take action.
I came accross this quote from Mother Theresa and for me speaks profoundly about prayer...
"The beginning of Prayer is silence...God speaking to the silence of the heart.
And then we start talking from the fulness of the heart. And God listens.
The beginning of prayer is scripture...we listen to God speaking again
from the fullness of our heart. And God listens.
That is really prayer.
Both sides listening and both sides speaking."
Over the past wee while I have been drawn to Proverbs. Moving from chapter 16 and a couple of the chapters that follows it says of how regardless of the x amount of plans we make God's purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
God doesnt always speak in a loud voice - often he speaks through the silence. These words from the hymn writer John Greenleaf Whittler who writes Dear Lord and Father of Mankind have often struck a chord with me:
With that deep hush subduing all
our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of thy call,
as noiseless let thy blessing fall
as fell thy manna down
We have prayed and we say sometimes God hasnt really heard what we are saying or the answer seems to be a long time in coming! If you feel this then these words are appropiate from Exodus!
Exodus 2:23-25
During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.
24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.
25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
The Israelites may have well been seen to be putting their complaints and groans before God for a long time but note God did take action. There is indication of an active God.
God hears
God remembers
God looks
God is concerned!
These verses appear at the end of chapter two but as you move on God is going to act on their behalf. He sends Moses to be their leader. God demonstrates his power through signs and miracles which ultimatlety point to their freedom/salvation.
Well congratulations to our little daughter, Catriona who took her first steps towards mummy yesterday with me looking on! It has taken a long time in coming. I was discussing this with someone recently. It must be something for a little one like Catriona to take her first step. It feels for us like a long time coming but we have waited paitently. We suspect that for a while she has known what she has got to do but yet gradually we have seen her putting it altogether like moving from holding with two hands to one then none! For us who have been walking it becomes a part of our normal life but for a little one it is the first big step!
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Without being too spiritual about it, we often pray for things but yet we know sometimes what we are meant to do and just need to take that first step of faith. God is always there granting us the strength to carry out what we have been called to do. While this blog is entitled a "Prayer Blog" - prayer should never be an excuse for no action.
So easy to say what the bible says about prayer - isnt it exciting when you see answered prayer! Everyday, I guess you see evidence of God at work. We are thankful as a family for providing a job for us this past week after a number of months applying for stuff and waiting on God to provide! This doesnt mean that we are going to stop praying for his will. But rather how much more do we day by day need to know his will for us as a family.
Througout this post you will see pictures I recently took of the town I live in:
Do you ever sit back and pray for the town/village/city etc that you stay in? What effect would it have on our towns etc someone signifcant in the life of that community were to make a decison to follow Christ?
It is good to pray for our towns and many do this individually or as a couple. Many have prayed in the old tried and tested idea of prayer triplets. There is also other ways of praying such as Christians getting together to pray for their town /street /workplace.
Newham is a borough on the edge of London and stands to benefit from development as result of the olympics coming to London. Christians there are encouraged to pray for their street or block. These are entitled Neighbourhood Lighthouses and Workplace lighthouses. To view more about the Transform Newham click here
Well today, I took up painting today after a number of years - I attended a local watercolour class. In watercolour and any kind of painting, it is important that we have a focal point and to have just one thing as the main focal point. Otherwise the person looking on to the painting which has many focal points trying to compete to catch the viewers eye. And often we can be distracted from the thing which is realy meant to be the main focal point.
How does this all relate to prayer? We are part of busy lives and we have to make sure that we keep Jesus as our main focal point.
Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
This now comes to the end of postings on the Lord's prayer. There is 11 postings with it beginning on the 19th May and ending yesterday (9th June). It is so easy to pray this prayer so rigidly. It is a prayer that looks forward to being united with the Heavenly Father.
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
Does God lead us into temptation? By no means what so ever! Why does the author pray such prayer? Please note that when it is speaking about temptation here it is referring to testing.
Jesus who is teaching them to pray has experienced testing. Before he went into the ministry he was tested in the wilderness but yet he did not give into it. Jesus brings up the matter of temptation in the wilderness. Jesus knows that these disciples will not go through their Christian lives with facing testing and temptation. But yet Jesus knew no sin! What are we saying when we pray this prayer? We are asking Jesus to be Lord over every situation that we come accross.
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To view a post on the theme of temptation click here
Matthew 6:12
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Verses later expand upon this
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Does this mean that we have to work for our Forgiveness by forgiving others? No but having said that it important that we come before God right with our fellow man. In the incident, God forgives us and what amazing lengths he has gone to forgive us. He sent his only son to die for us. That is his mercy for us. Should we not follow his example and be a merciful people? Looking at it another way does God limit his forgiveness to one and not the other.
Matthew actually encourages us to be right before our brother. He says that if we have come to place of worship to offer and are not right with our brother, we should first go to our brother and make things right.
Matthew 6:11
Give us today our daily bread
Today we get paid monthly and possibly weekly or fortnightly but it is very rare that we might earn daily. Essentially, in those times they worked today for tomorrow's keep! Praying this petition means that we have to trust the Lord for his provision.
All these recent phrases about Lord's kingdom coming in and His will to be done are looking forward to the future and in a sense this is too. Psalm 23, the Shepherd Psalm, we see how our shepherd and companion prepares for us a banquet in the presence of our enemies. By recieving today's daily bread we get a foretaste of that final day in glory when the King of Kings will prepare a feast for us.
Matthew 6:10
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Having prayed for His Kingdom to come, he now prays that the father's will would be done. The Father's perfect will for us is modeled in heaven as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit relate to one another. As we see the trinity relating to one another so perfectly, so we want to pray that this would be modeled on earth.
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to view a previous post on the father's will click here
