Category: 2020 Prayers

Just As I Am I Come

Charlotte Elliott in her early thirties
suffered a serious illness that left
her weak and depressed. During her
illness a minister Dr Caesar Malan
visited her. Noting her depression
he asked if she had peace with God.
She resented the question and said
she did not want to talk about it.
But a few days later she went to
apologise to Dr Malan, saying she
wanted to clean up some things in
her life before becoming a Christian.
Malan answered: Come just as u are.
That was enough for Charlotte and
she yielded to the Lord that day.
14 years later, remembering those
words spoken by Caesar Malan
in Brighton, she wrote this hymn.

Lord, we Come to You as we are:
Then they said to Him: Lord,
give us this bread always. And
Jesus replied: I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never
be hungry again. Whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty.
But I say to you that you have
seen Me and yet do not believe.
Those the Father has given me
will come to me, and I will never
reject them (John 6:34-37).

Merciful Father, You heard the
prayers of Your people in the
wilderness and fed them bread
from heaven despite their sin.
Forgive us for elevating earthly
appetites above devotion to You.
Graciously hear us today and
feed us too with the Bread of Life
from heaven, even Lord Jesus.
Feed us with the knowledge of
Christ so that we recognise our
sin and repent in His name. Amen.

Lord Jesus and the Bread of life,
forgive me for seeking after
things that will never really satisfy
or fulfil my deepest longings.
Forgive me for focussing on what
You can do for me materially instead
of seeking the rich, true life that
comes from You. Cause me to
hunger and thirst for You and Your
life that You have for me. Amen.

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidds’t me
come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can
cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon,
cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!

Lord Jesus Loves Me

Anna Warner and her sister Susan
grew up near West Point Military
Academy where they became known
for leading Sunday school services.
After the death of their father,
the sisters supported themselves
with their literary endeavours.
Susan was a best-selling novelist.
Anna also wrote novels & published
two collections of poems. She wrote
this simple hymn in 1860 to be
included in one of her sister’s novels.
In the story, it was a poem of
comfort spoken to a dying child.
Today millions around the world
sing these words: Yes Jesus loves
me. This profound yet simple truth
is certainly worth singing about.

Lord, we love U for U first Love us:
God loved the world so much
that He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes
in Him will not perish but have
eternal life. God sent his Son
into the world not to judge
the world, but to save the world
through him (John 3:16-17).

Father God, thank You for loving
me beyond what I could imagine.
It amazes me that You love me so
much that You sent Your only Son
to pay the ultimate price so that
I could have my sins forgiven, know
You more & experience eternal life.
Let Your love flow through me so
that more people may experience
Your boundless love. Amen.

Lord Jesus, it is really difficult to
understand love so great as Yours.
For You laid down Your life for me
so that I can live forever with You.
Out of gratitude, my response
to Your first loving me is to love
You wholeheartedly in return.
Help me to lay down my life fully
for You in serving Your purpose
for me here on earth. Amen.

Lord Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee. Amen

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o12C8fWzER0

Just As I Am I Come

Charlotte Elliott in her early thirties
suffered a serious illness that left
her weak and depressed. During her
illness a minister Dr Caesar Malan
visited her. Noting her depression
he asked if she had peace with God.
She resented the question and said
she did not want to talk about it.
But a few days later she went to
apologise to Dr Malan, saying she
wanted to clean up some things in
her life before becoming a Christian.
Malan answered: Come just as u are.
That was enough for Charlotte and
she yielded to the Lord that day.
14 years later, remembering those
words spoken by Caesar Malan
in Brighton, she wrote this hymn.

Lord, we Come to You as we are:
Then they said to Him: Lord,
give us this bread always. And
Jesus replied: I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never
be hungry again. Whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty.
But I say to you that you have
seen Me and yet do not believe.
Those the Father has given me
will come to me, and I will never
reject them (John 6:34-37).

Merciful Father, You heard the
prayers of Your people in the
wilderness and fed them bread
from heaven despite their sin.
Forgive us for elevating earthly
appetites above devotion to You.
Graciously hear us today and
feed us too with the Bread of Life
from heaven, even Lord Jesus.
Feed us with the knowledge of
Christ so that we recognise our
sin and repent in His name. Amen.

Lord Jesus and the Bread of life,
forgive me for seeking after
things that will never really satisfy
or fulfil my deepest longings.
Forgive me for focussing on what
You can do for me materially instead
of seeking the rich, true life that
comes from You. Cause me to
hunger and thirst for You and Your
life that You have for me. Amen.

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidds’t me
come to Thee,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can
cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon,
cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!

Adore the Lamb of God

Twila Paris (born 1958) comes
from a family of ministers with her
great grand-parents being revival
preachers in Arkansas & Oklahoma.
She was encouraged to sing in
church from a young age by her
father, who was also a minister and
songwriter. Following graduation
from high school and a year of study
in Bible school, Paris focused on
singing and Christian composition.
Twila Paris was one of the leading
Christian artists for three decades,
with 32 of her singles reaching
No 1 on Christian radio charts.
Several of Twila Paris’ songs have
been included in hymnals, including
He Is Exalted & Lamb of God 1985.

Lord, we adore U the Lamb of God:
The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world!
This is He of whom I said: After
me comes a Man who is preferred
before me, for He was before me…
And John bore witness, saying:
I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven like a dove,
and He remained upon Him…
He who sent me to baptise with
water said: Upon whom you see
the Spirit descending & remaining
on Him, this is He who baptises
with the Holy Spirit. And I have
seen and testified that this is
the Son of God (John 1:29-34).

Father God, Your Son, no sin at all,
yet You sent Him to become the
sacrificial Lamb so that his blood
can become the substitutionary
atonement for all our sins.
Lord Jesus, we love You for being
the Lamb of God and we praise You
for all that You have accomplished:
Your sacrificial death, triumphant
resurrection; and for certain return.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive
all glory forever and ever, Amen.

Lord, I give You the glory because
You the only Begotten One, who
alone is without sin, gave Yourself
to die for me, a sinner unworthy
of such a blessing: You died the
death on the cross to free my
sinful soul from the bonds of sin.
Glory to You for Your love & mercy.
Glory to You for Your forgiveness.
Glory to You for saving our souls.
Thank You for the wonder of Your
sacrifice and praise You for the
power of the resurrection. Amen.

Lord, Your only Son, No sin to hide
But U have sent Him from Yr side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God.
Your gift of Love, they crucified
They laughed & scorned as he died
The humble King they named fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God.
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious Blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.

Wise Words on Gratitude

It’s rare to hear anyone admit to
ignorance but Agur does that.
Yet with his questions about nature,
he leads the reader to understand
something of God’s brilliance in
contrast to the limits of human
understanding. The capstone of
the book of Proverbs is provided
by Lemuel, who praises the virtues
of a godly wife and mother. It is
fitting that Proverbs, which begins
in heaven (1:7) should end in the
home (31:15) for if God’s wisdom
works, it has to work in the home.

Lord, thank You for Proverbs 30-31
that contains wise words on
Gratitude to God for protection
and providing all that we need.
Lord, You are the key to Wisdom for
there’s limit to human understanding.
Help us to Apply Your Truth;
Help us to Put Trust In You;
Help us to Be Contented;
Help us to Treasure Spouse; and
Grant us Wisdom & Courage. Amen.

Lord, we will Put Trust in You:
I am too ignorant to be human,
and I lack common sense. I have
not mastered human wisdom
nor do I know the Holy One.
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans? Who
has created the whole world? Tell
me if u know! Every word of God
is pure; He is a shield to those who
put their trust in Him (Prov 30:2-5)
Lord, who holds the wind and the
oceans? It is You Almighty God!
You still the wind with Your voice.
You orchestrate the changing
of the seasons. And it is You who
created me and give me purpose
in life. Look into my heart & make
me a willing instrument in Yr hand
trusting You. For it is not about
our abilities, it’s all about You God
who does great things. Amen.

Lord, we will Be Contented:
O God, I beg two favours from You…
First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty
nor riches! Give me just enough
to satisfy my needs. For if I grow
rich, I may deny You and say:
“Who is the Lord?” And if I am
too poor, I may steal & thus insult
God’s holy name (Prov 30:7-9).
Lord, thank You that You care for
us and that You are Jehovah Jireh,
the one who provides all our needs.
Help us to be contented with what
You give us so that we do not fall
into temptation & dishonour U God.
For our materialistic culture creates
dissatisfaction with what we have.
Help us Lord to be shaped by
Scripture’s perspective on money
and be dependent upon You God
rather than in constant pursuit of
saving and spending more. Amen.

Lord, we will Treasure Spouse:
A wife of noble character…
is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence
in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all
the days of her life (Prov 31:10-12).
Lord, to have a spouse who exhibits
these behaviours is indeed more
valuable & satisfying than possessing
any amount of material wealth.
Lord, You promise to equip us
for the tasks You are calling us
to at various life stages. We know
that You are not calling us to do
everything, but a few things well.
Help us to love our spouse as they
are, though we are on the road to
perfection in Christ; and enjoy the
journey together thro grace. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hc7_GLCRLkIkttl

Wise Words on Right Perspective

In his closing contribution to the
book of Proverbs, Solomon records
the riches of righteousness and
the fatal danger of foolishness.
False witnesses and friends,
the corrupt and the righteous,
the foolish and the wise,
the slothful and the diligent,
the deceitful and the dependable
– Solomon has something to say
to each! God’s wisdom gives
a proper perspective of things
and guidance in choosing the
right response to life’s situations.

Lord, thanks for Proverbs 25-29
where Solomon shared riches of
uprightness & danger of foolishness.
Help us to have right perspectives
so that we’ll make the right choices.
Help us to Be Good Friends;
Help us to Be Obedient to Yr Laws;
Help us to Be Teachable.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Be Good Friends:
Lord, impress upon me that
the wounds of honest words that
hurt from a friend can be trusted…
Creature comforts bring joy to the
heart, and the pleasantness of one’s
friends springs from the earnest
counsel that is given. I will not
forsake my friends (Prov 27: 6,9-10)
Lord, I want to be the kind of
friend I would want to have.
Help me to be vulnerable,
willing to share my weaknesses
and struggles with my friends.
Help me to be honest, speaking
the truth, even if it is unpleasant.
Help me to affirm and expressing
the good things I see in them.
Help me to encourage & be present
with friends in their struggles. Amen.

Lord, we will Obey your laws:-
Better a poor man whose walk
is blameless than a rich man
whose ways are perverse…
If anyone turns a deaf ear to
the law, even his prayers are
detestable. Whoever causes
the upright to go astray in an
evil way, he himself will fall into
his own pit; but the blameless
will inherit good (Prov 28:6,9,10).
Lord, teach me Your Word so that
I understand every time I read it.
Give me insight into Your ways
so that they become part of me.
Speak to my heart if my thoughts
words or actions gets off the mark.
Help me to walk life of integrity and
Keep me on the right path so that
my prayers are not detestable to You
so that I’ll inherit a good life. Amen.

Lord, we will be Teachable:
He who remains stiff-necked
after many rebukes will suddenly
be destroyed without remedy…
Where there is no revelation,
the people cast off restraint;
but happy is he who keeps
the law (Proverbs 29:1 & 18).
Lord, help us not be stiff-necked
for making the same mistakes
over & over and refusing to learn
for it is an invitation to disaster.
Help us instead to be teachable,
to know God’s ways and keep
Your rules, for where there’s
ignorance, sin runs wild. Amen.

I’d Rather Have Jesus

This poem written in 1922 by
Rhea Miller, was left on a piano
in the Shea home by Bev Shea
who wanted her son to find it
and change the course of his life.
The words, I’d rather have Jesus
moved George so much and
spoke to him about his aims in life.
He sat down at the piano and
began singing them with a tune
that seemed to fit the words.
George’s life direction did change
He was offered a popular music
career with NBC, but a few years
later chose to become associated
with evangelist Billy Graham and
sang this hymn around the world.

Lord Jesus, I rather have You:
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
‘If anyone would come after Me,
he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow Me.
For whoever wants to save
his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will find it.
What good will it be for a man
if he gains the whole world,
yet forfeits his soul? Or what
can a man give in exchange
for his soul? (Matt 16:24-26).

Father God, forgive us when we
seek after temporal things to meet
the deep yearnings of our heart.
Your plan was to send Your Son,
to give us a life that is not empty
or imprisoned by sin’s chains.
Lord Jesus, thanks for Yr sacrificial
death to save us from our sins.
Nothing on earth deserves our
allegiance more than our Saviour.
Holy Spirit, Remind us to be always
grateful to Jesus for His love. Amen

Lord, we are created in Christ for
good works which God prepared
for each of us to live purposefully.
Grant us grace to find out and do
the heavenly things that You God
wants us to do while still on earth.
Grant us the attitude of Apostle
Paul who considers everything
rubbish that he may know Christ.
And Grant us resolve to truly say:
I’d rather have Jesus for I’d rather
be true to His holy name. Amen.

Lord, I know this hymn is about
dedication and commitment
for to follow after Jesus is costly.
Grant me the fervent will to
be able to sing from my heart,
and truly mean it, the words of
the hymn: I’d Rather Have Jesus.
Grant me the grace to obey
Your word for apart from You
I can really do nothing. Amen.

Lord, I’d rather have Jesus
than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful
to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus
than world-wide fame;
I’d rather be true
to His holy name.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today. Amen.

Love Lifted Me !! 

Background: Love Lifted Me
was written in 1912 Connecticut.
James Rowe wrote the lyrics and
Howard Smith wrote the melody.
According to Rowe’s daughter:
I can see my father striding up and
down humming a bar or two, and
Howard playing it & jotting it down.
Rowe and Smith wrote the hymn
based on the passage Peter
walking on the water, becoming
afraid, and crying out to the Lord
to save him as he was sinking.

Lord Jesus, Your Love Lifted Me:
Peter said: Lord,if it’s You, command
me to come to You on the water.
So He said: Come. And when Peter
came out of the boat and walked on
the water to go to Jesus. But when
he saw the wind was boisterous,
he was afraid and, beginning to
sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately Jesus reached out
His hand and caught him. ‘You
of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did
you doubt? (Matthew 14:28-31).

Lord, remember singing this
hymn in my late teens and young
adult years. And now as going
through the challenges in life,
the hymnal song just rise
from the deep of my heart.
Only Your love Lord gives lasting
peace and reigns in our heart.
For You God remains in control,
even in the storms of life. Amen.

Lord God commanded His love
towards us that while we were
still sinners Jesus died for us.
That’s the love that lifted us.
Love especially the final verse:
Souls in danger look above
Jesus completely saves –
What hope and assurance!!
Love lifted me, Love lifted me
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Thank U Lord. Amen

Lord, All my heart to You I give,
ever to You I’ll cling
In Your blessèd presence live,
ever Your praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true,
merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too,
to You belongs.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Amen.

Softly & Tenderly Jesus is Calling

Will Thomson regularly went to New
York City to sell the secular songs
he had written. He made so much
money from his compositions that
he was called millionaire songwriter.
But Thomson began to concentrate
on hymn writing and set up his
own firm for publishing hymnals.
And two million copies of his
gospel quartet books were sold.
Around 1880, when Thompson
was 33 years old, he wrote this
invitational hymn: Softly & Tenderly.

Lord, we will come to You:
Then Jesus said: Come to me, all
of you who are weary & carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me
teach you, because I am humble
and gentle at heart, and you will
find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy to bear, and the burden
I give you is light (Matt 11:28-30).

Lord, thank You for loving us so
much and desires all man will come
to him; for it is He who will truly
give us Rest from our weariness.
Jesus is never tired of waiting
and watching out for us, telling
us: Come home and find Peace.
The Lord has led me many times
in singing, “Softly and Tenderly.”
For I can always come to Him
and recieve His abundant mercy.
And no matter what my life holds,
I can say Jesus is calling. Amen.

Lord, this hymn prompt us to come
back to You after wandering around.
You are so merciful Lord to receive
us back as Your children. It doesn’t
matter what our sins may be, You
always wants us back. And You will
cleanse us & make us white as snow.
And when we walk back to You,
You will welcome us with open arms.
No matter how far we go, You
tenderly tell us we’ve not gone
too far to come back home. Amen.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals
He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry
when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger
and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Seek First the Kingdom of God

Karen Lafferty: I was raised in a
Christian home, but like many young
people I wanted to drift & discover
life. I was working as a nightclub
entertainer in New Orleans when a
friend visited me & got me on track.
After that I began to write Christian
songs. It was back in 1971. I quit my
entertainment job and was trying to
support myself with teaching guitar
lessons to three students! When
my savings were all gone and I had
no money to make car payments,
I became discouraged & confused.
One evening I went to a Bible study
and we talked about Matthew 6:33.
I was tremendously encouraged
and challenged by the words.
So I went home, wrote the tune,
recorded it on a tape recorder.
I taught the song at church the next
week and it caught on right away.

Lord, we’ll Seek Your Kingdom First:
Therefore do not worry…For after
all these things the Gentiles seek.
For your Heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness,
and all these things will be
added to you (Matt 6:31-33). Amen.

Lord, while we love You, it is not
easy to give up things of this world.
Help us to genuinely seek first the
kingdom of God by surrendering
all that is required to be yielded.
Help us seek You First that God is
the Priority of all things in our life.
Help us to relinquish our selfish
worldly ambitions to You today.
Help us that we may give our all
to God and live by Him always.
Help us to commit to give You our
all & take You at Your Word. Amen.

Lord, U know & care for our needs.
And U desire Your children to ASK.
Help us to Ask so that we be given,
Seek so that we we shall find,
Knock and the door be open to us.
Help us to start each day Seeking
God and You will direct our path.
Help us to have Faith that You will
fulfill Your promises in our lives.
Help us Put You Above all else!!
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be
added onto you, Alleu, alleuia.
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word,
That proceeds from the
mouth of God, Alleu, Alleuia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be
opened onto you. Alleu, Alleuia.