What A Friend We Have in Jesus
Joseph Scriven was a man who had
experienced friendship of Jesus
thro a life filled with personal tragedy.
When Scriven was a young man
in Ireland, his fiancée drowned
the evening before their wedding.
Soon after he set sail for Canada.
He seemed destined to live alone
with Jesus as his only close friend.
Scriven never intended to publish
this hymn. He wrote the words to
accompany a letter to his mother,
who was ill in Ireland. He had no
material resources to send her –
only a reminder the most perfect of
friends, Jesus himself was nearby.
Lord, we pour our burdens to You:
Don’t worry about anything,
instead pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and
thank Him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace
will guard your heart and mind as
you live in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7).
Lord, Enable me lift up in praise
& worship of whatever facing me.
Help me Lord not to be anxious
or worry about anything but
instead to pray and intercede.
Help me to refuse to think of
negative and what-if thoughts.
Help me to bring every concern
before you & leave it at your feet.
Fill me with Your peace that passes
all understanding so that my heart
and mind will be protected. Amen.
Lord, here is my need & worry;
and I give them to You and ask
that You calm my anxious heart
and quiet my racing thoughts.
Center them on Christ Jesus
and on His power & sufficiency,
Because I belong to You Lord,
I know that Your peace will
guard my heart and my mind.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
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. Amen.