Category: 2020 Prayers

In the Garden With Jesus

Austin Miles (1868 –1946) was a
prolific American writer of gospel
songs, who is best known for
his 1912 hymn “In the Garden”.
I was seated in the darkroom where
I kept my photographic equipment I drew my Bible toward me; it opened
at my favorite chapter, John 20…
As I read it, I seemed to be part of
the scene. I became a silent witness
to that dramatic moment in Mary’s
life, when she knelt before her Lord,
and cried, “Rabboni!” Under the
inspiration of this vision I wrote as
quickly as the words were formed.
That evening I wrote the music.

Lord, we want to Be With You:
Mary saw two angels in white sitting
where the body of Jesus was lain.
Then they said: Woman Why are you
Weeping? She said to them: Because
they have taken away my Lord…
Now when she turned around and
saw Jesus standing there… Jesus
said to her: Woman, Why are you
Weeping? She supposing him to be
the gardener said: Tell me where
you have laid Him. Jesus said to her:
Mary! She turned and said to him:
Rabonni! Jesus said to her: Go
to my brethren and say to them:
I am ascending to My Father
and your Father (Jn 20:12-17).

Father, thanks for the wonderful
fact that Christ is indeed risen!
Help us Lord to put every aspect
of our lives in that perspective.
Even as You brought us healing
through the wonders of Easter;
continue to pour out Your grace
and Your mercy on Your people.
Lead us to perfect freedom in Christ.
And let the joy to be fulfilled in heaven will also gladden our way
on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my
Good Shepherd! I am so thankful
You speak & lead me through life.
I am sorry for the times I haven’t
listened to You when You have
tried to warn, help and guide me.
And I have lost so much because
I didn’t listen when You spoke.
But rather than focus on the past
losses, I purpose to do everything
within my ability to hear You now
and to obey what You say. Amen.

Lord, I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear,falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And Joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the nite around me be falling
He bids me go; thro the time of woe,
His voice to me is calling… Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9aIhta9exts

Love, Grace & Mercy At Calvary

William Newell (1868-1956) was
best known as a Bible teacher,
pastor and professor. While on
his way to teach a class at Moody
Bible Institute, the words of this
hymn began to form in his mind.
So he went to an unoccupied class
-room and there scribbled the
words on the back of an envelope.
A few minutes later he gave the
words to Daniel Towner, the director
of music at the school. Within an
hour Towner composed the music.
The first three stanzas tell the
testimony of the Christian and the
final stanza praises God for the
greatness of divine love, the depth
of grace and the breadth of mercy.

Lord, thank You for Your Grace:
It was the Preparation Day of the
Passover and about the 6th hour.
And Pilate said to the Jews: Behold
your King! But they cried out:
Crucify Him! Pilate said to them:
Shall I crucify your King? The chief
priests answered: We have no king
but Caesar! Then he delivered Him
to them to be crucified…And He
bearing His cross, went to a place
of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew
Golgotha or in Latin Calvary; where
they crucified Him and two others…
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it
on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING
OF THE JEWS… written in Hebrew,
Greek and Latin (John 19:14-20).

Father God, in Your mercy, You
sent Jesus to die for our sins on
Calvary’s tree and that He rose
again on the third day so that
our sins are completely forgiven,
and that we have been set free.
Lord Jesus, we praise and thank
You for Your sacrifice for our sins.
You paid our debt at Calvary to give
us eternal life with You my Saviour!
Holy Spirit, help us to live for Christ
even as Jesus died for us. Amen.

Lord Jesus, this hymn encourages
us to hold on to faith regardless of
the struggles we may face in life.
The chorus reminds us that God’s
grace will see His children through.
So, we will stop trying to carry these
burdens and give them to Jesus.
And we’ll not let our heart grow cold
with doubt for Jesus is all we need.
For “Mercy there was great & grace
was free;Pardon there was given
to me. And There my burdened soul
found liberty at Calvary!” Amen.

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me
He died On Calvary.
Mercy was great & grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul
found liberty At Calvary.
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul
can only sing Of Calvary! Amen.

I’ve Found A Friend

Backgrounder: James Small was
a minister in the Scottish Free
Church who loved to write hymns.
This hymn published in 1863
in the Revival Hymnbook, is full
of great theological truths. From
our standpoint we sing: I’ve Found
a Friend but the truth is “He loved
me ere I knew Him” and “He
drew me with the cords of love”.
Obviously it is Jesus who initiated
this friendship. Such a Friend
is truly worth singing about.

Lord, we’ll Obey Your Command:
This is My commandment, that
u love one another as I’ve loved u.
There is no greater love than to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are My friends if you do
what I command… Now you are
My friends, since I have told you
everything the Father told me…
I appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit, and that your fruit
remain, that whatever you ask the
Father in My name He may give you.
These things I command you that
you love one another (Jn 15:12-17).

Lord Jesus, thanks for Your
sacrificial love and for being
our friend. Help us to love one
another, as You have loved us,
even as we purpose to obey
Your challenging commandment.
We note that Your command
for us to love one another is for
the purpose that we bear fruit.
As people see the love between
Christians, let them be drawn to
You, the source of our love. Amen.

Lord, You call us to love one another
though You know our propensity towards selfishness. So, help us
to always remember love is not
optional for those who follow You.
Help us also to abide in Your love;
for it is the key to loving our
brothers and sisters in Christ;
for apart from You, we can
do absolutely nothing. Amen.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.
I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own self He gave me.
From Him who loves me now so well,
What pow’r my soul shall sever?
My heart,my strength, my life,my all
Are His, and His forever. Amen.

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Louisa Stead and her husband
were relaxing with their four-year
old daughter on Long Island beach
when they heard a desperate child’s
cry. A boy was drowning & Louisa’s
husband tried to rescue him.
In desperation the boy pulled Mr
Stead under water & both drowned.
Louisa was left with no means of
support & experienced dire poverty.
One morning when she had no food
for the day she opened the front
door and found that someone had
left food & money in her doorstep.
That day she wrote this hymn,
inspired partly by John 14.

Lord, we will wholly Trust In You:
Jesus said: Don’t let your hearts
be troubled. Trust in God, and
trust also also in me (John 14:1-3).
Whatever you ask in My name,
that I will do that the Father may
be glorified in the Son. If you ask
anything in My name, I will do it.
(John 14:13-14). Peace I leave with
you, My peace I give to you; not
as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Lord, in life challenges that come,
I will not let my heart be troubled
but will choose to keep trusting
You to deliver on Your promises.
For I trust in You with all my heart.
For I have purposed to live by faith.
For my God knows the plans He
has for me, plans to prosper me
and not to harm me, to give me
a future and a hope. Amen.

Lord, we may have afflictions but
the Lord Will Deliver us; and we are
more than conqueror thro him who
loved us. And we choose to keep
faith, trusting You will protect and
provide for in due time we’ll reap.
And thank You for the comfort
and reminder from the hymn.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved him o’er & o’er!
O for grace to trust Him more. Amen

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know: Thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er & o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend,
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.

In the Sweet By and By

Fillmore Bennett (1836-98) in his
autobiography described how the
hymn was written. Joseph Webster,
like many musicians was of sensitive
nature and subject to mood swing.
He came to my place in Wisconsin
walked down to the stove & turned
his back on me without speaking.
I was at my desk. Turning to him,
I said, “Webster, what’s the matter
now?” “It’s no matter,” he replied,
“it will be all right by and by.” The
idea of the hymn came to me like
a flash and I replied, “The Sweet
By and By! Turning to my desk
I penned the words of the hymn as
fast as I could write. I handed the
words to Webster. Taking his violin,
he played the melody & jotted down
the notes. Then we sang the hymn.

Lord, thanks for Secured Future:
Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father’s house are
many mansions…I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and
prepare for you, I will come
again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may
be also (John 14:1-3). Amen.

Lord, thank You for the magnificent
mansion You are building for me
in heaven. Thanks that I’ll live with
You in a perfect place for all eternity.
Thank You for the promise that You
will escort me to my heavenly home.
Thank You for giving me eternal life.
Though this life is filled with trouble,
I know that I’m only passing through.
Grant me an eternal mindset so that
I can endure temporal difficulties
that may come my way. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking the
fear of death away from each of us.
The end of our life here You have
made the beginning of the true life
to be with You enjoying life forever.
You free us from sin and from the
curse laid upon us, for U took both
sin and the curse upon Yourself. And
when You rose from the dead, You
cleared the way for our resurrection.
Thank You Lord for Your completed
work of redemption and forgiveness,
paving way for our beautiful future.
In gratitude, we purpose to live for
You with Your Spirit enabling. Amen.

There’s a land that is fairer than day
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And blessings that hallow our days.

Faithfulness of Love

Song of Songs is a wedding song
honouring marriage. The most
explicit statements on sex in the
Bible can be found in this book &
noted for its sensuous language.
The purity of love represented here
are needed as distorted attitudes
about love and marriage abound.
God created sex and intimacy, and
they are holy & good when enjoyed
within the bounds of marriage.
A husband and wife honor God
when they love & enjoy each other.

Father, Thanks for Your gift of love
thro Christ & for sending the love
of our life. You are a faithful God
and You want us to Be Faithful.
Help us Lord to Be Passionate;
Help us Lord to Be Appreciative;
Help us Lord to Be Devoted. And
Help us in so doing, reflect the love that comes from You God. Amen.

Lord, help us to Be Passionate:
Shulamite: I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking:
Open to me, my sister, my darling…
My lover thrust his hand through
the latch-opening; my heart
began to pound for him. I arose
to open for my lover (Song 5:2-5).
Lord, we are people with passions,
and deep desires. Whatever can
stoke our fires gets the benefit
of our full attention. Help us Lord
to be like the beloved whose heart
is awake to the calling of her lover.
For when our hearts are awake,
we hear everything; and we’re tune
in to whispers, hints & suggestions.
And Lord, stir our passion for You.
Deepen our desire for Your voice.
And awaken our heart to every
Word from Your mouth. Amen.

Lord, help us to Be Appreciative:
Shulamite: I am my beloved’s
And my beloved is mine…
Beloved: O my love, you are as
beautiful as Tirzah, lovely as
Jerusalem… Turn your eyes sway
from me, for they have overcome me.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
going down from Gilead (Song 6:3-5)
Father, help me to see the best in
others especially my spouse; and
to compare myself only to Jesus.
Everyone needs to feel appreciated
now & then. And giving compliments
is something that I am not good at.
Help me show appreciation by giving
compliments especially to spouse.
And I purpose to tell others what
the Lord has done in my life in order
to renew my love for Him. Amen.

Lord, help us to Be Devoted:
Shulamite: I am my lover’s, the one
he desires. Come my love, let us
go out into the fields and spend
the night among the windflowers.
Let us get up early and go out
to the vineyards. And there I will
give you my love (Song 7:10-13).
Shulamite: Love flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame. Many
waters cannot quench love; neither
can rivers drown it (Song 8:5-7).
Lord, as a marriage matures, grant
us greater freedom on who takes
the initiative to boost relationship.
Help us be devoted to our spouse
and let passionate love continues
in order to cement commitment.
And in so doing, reflect the perfect
love that comes from U God. Amen.

Fostering of Love

Song of Songs is a wedding song
honouring marriage. The most
explicit statements on sex in the
Bible can be found in this book.
And so it has been often criticised
because of its sensuous language.
The purity and sacredness of love
represented here are greatly needed
in our day where distorted attitudes
about love and marriage abound.
God created sex and intimacy, and
they are holy & good when enjoyed
within the bounds of marriage.
A husband and wife honor God
when they love & enjoy each other.

Lord, thanks for Your gift of love
and a delight for all our senses.
Help us to Please Each Other. 
Help us to Affirm Each Other.
Help us Be Devoted to Each Other.
And in so doing, reflect the perfect
love that comes from You God.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, help us Please Each Other: Shulamite: Kiss me again & again
for your love is sweeter than wine…
The king is lying on his couch,
enchanted by the fragrance of my
perfume. My lover is like a sachet
of myrrh lying between my breasts.
Young Man: How beautiful you
are my beloved… Young Woman:
What a lively sight you are my love…
My beloved is mine and I am
his (Song 1:1, 12-16 & 2:16).
Lord, You created love as a gift
to us & a delight for all our senses.
Help us to seek to please each
other and encourage by expressing
the beauty of our spouse. Amen.

Lord, we Commit Each Other:
Shulamite: One night as I lay in bed,
I yearned deeply for my lover, but
he did not come. So I said to myself:
I will get up now and roam the city,
searching for him in all the streets…
But my search was in vain…
A little while later I found him.
I didn’t let him go until I had brought
him to my childhood home, into
my mother’s bedroom, where
I had been conceived (Sol 3:1-4).
Lord, we are challenged by the passion of the Shulamite woman
who went to great length to search for her love and to hold on to him.
Pray for Christian married couples
that God will protect their vows
to each other. Pray that Christian
marriages with God’s help can be
strong and characterised by passion.
For You want marriage to stand
for commitment, communion,
faithfulness and permanency. Amen.

Lord, Help us Affirm Each Other: 
You are all fair, my love,
And there is no spot in you…
You have ravished my heart…
A garden enclosed is my sister,
my spouse, a spring shut up, a 
fountain sealed…You are a garden
fountain, a well of flowing water
streaming down (Song 4:7-15).
Lord, help us communicate love
and express admiration in words
and action that enhance marriage.
Fill me afresh with Your Spirit
so that when I am with anyone,
they will sense Your presence. And 
Make me like a well of Refreshing 
water flowing out to others. Amen.

Preview On Song of Songs

Whilst Bible is arranged by genre,
we are meditating chronologically:
Genesis on God’s Plan for creation;
JOB on Sovereignty of God; and
Exodus, Leviticus, Num-Deut on
Deliverance, Holiness & Obedience.
Then Joshua on Obedient Faith,
Judges on God Restoring Repentant;
Ruth on Faithfulness/Redemption;
1 Sam on Rule of God in our heart;
2 Sam on Consequences of sin;
1 Chronicles on Genuine Worship;
Psalms on Hymns of Worship,
1Kgs on United & Divided Kingdom
and Proverbs on practical wisdom.

Continuing, King Solomon is credited
with writing over a thousand songs
in his lifetime. However this is the
one that he calls the ‘Song of Songs’
or the best of all possible songs.
The king’s words weave a tapestry
of love and devotion toward his
young bride, touching both the
joys and heartaches of marriage.
Though interpreters disagree
whether the book is simply a love
poem or the depiction of an actual
event in Solomon’s life, most see
it as an allegory for the Saviour’s
eternal love for His bride the church.

We will meditate on Song of Songs
over one weekend in two divisions:
Song 1-4: Fostering of Love
Song 5-8: Faithfulness of Love
Lord, Help us apply Your truths on
this peculiar book that tells of the
love of a couple and God’s love for
His people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead us

We don’t know who wrote the words
to Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.
It appeared in a children’s hymnal
compiled by Dorothy Thrupp in 1836:
But it is clear the wording was
inspired by John 10, where Jesus
says: I am the good shepherd.
And we know the music was by
William Bradbury, a gifted music
student in Boston. After finishing
school, Bradbury moved to New
York where he worked as a church
musician focussing children’s music.
He intended Savior Like a Shepherd
Lead Us to be a children’s hymn, but
it turned out adults enjoyed it too.

Lord, we Follow as You Lead Us:
He who enters by the door is
the shepherd of the sheep…
The sheep hear His voice, and
He calls His own sheep by name
and Leads them out… He goes
before them; and the sheep Follow Him; for they know His voice…
I am the good shepherd, I know
My own sheep and they know Me.
So I sacrifice My life for the sheep
(John 10:2-4, 14-15). Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for making
me one of Your sheep. And what
a privilege it is to belong to You!
Thank You for going ahead
and preparing the way for me.
Thank You for calling me by name,
speaking to my heart & leading me.
With all the voices in the world,
quiet my mind and heart so that
I will recognise Your voice and
follow only You my Saviour. Amen.

Lord Shepherd of my soul, I praise
and thank You for Your care of me.
You are not just my creator and God;
You are not just King and judge of
the universe, You are my Shepherd.
I am blessed because of You,
I am not in need. Keep me from
complaining. Help me not to worry.
And let me rest in the promise
that as I go where You will lead,
You will meet all my needs. Amen.

Lord Saviour like a shepherd lead us
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us
For our use Thy fold prepare;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou has bought us Thine we are.
Early let us seek Thy favour,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Saviour
With Thy love our bosoms fill;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou has loved us, love us still.Amen

Wonderful Words of Life

Christian publisher Fleming Revell
asked gospel song writer Philip Bliss
if he could come up with a song
to help to launch a new paper
emphasizing the vital importance
of studying the Word of God.
Bliss duly produced a song,
calling it Wonderful Words of Life.
Revell passed on a copy to another
hymn writer, George Stebbins.
Stebbins began using Philip Bliss’
song in evangelistic meetings,
with he and his wife Elma singing
it as a duet. It caught on, after
that and became very popular.

Lord, fill us with Words of Life:
He who eats My flesh and drinks
my blood abides in Me & I in him.
From that time many of His
disciples walked with Him no more
Then Jesus said to the twelve:
Do you also want to go away?
But Simon answered Him: Lord,
to whom shall we go? You have
the Words of eternal life. Also we
have come to believe and knew
that You are the Christ, the son
of the living God (Jn 6:66-69).

Lord, no matter how difficult the
Words of the Bible seem to be,
help me to make decisions that
are in accordance with Your Word.
Help me Holy Spirit to understand
how Your Word applies to every
aspect of my life so that I will not
be tempted to turn away from You.
Remind me each day what You
alone have the Words that give
eternal and abundant life. Amen.

Lord, thank You for giving us
Words of life for man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth
of God. Your word is a lamp to
our feet and a light to our path.
The Word of God is living and
powerful. And in the keeping of
its precepts, there is great reward.
Since You give to All the words
of life, help us not only to know it,
but to share it with others. Amen.

Lord, Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words
Wonderful words of life.
Sweetly echo the gospel call,
wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
wonderful words of life. Amen.