What is our request before the Lord?
Do we pray for earthly blessings and relief from trials or from the physical discomforts alone?
Or do we talk to the Lord because He is God, worthy of honor and glory? Do I pray to give Him thanks and praise, with no request?
What do we want? How do we talk to the Lord?
I have trouble sitting still. Will God be OK if I move around a pray? Yes.
And, today, I share Fanny Crosby’s old hymn of 1875, “Draw Me Nearer.”
Fanny Crosby is a wonderful teacher. Many of her hymns were prayers. I share this to be spoken (or sung) with vocal cords vibrating.
To me, it’s therapy to the soul:
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend.
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side . . . Fanny Crosby 1875
Today I ask the Lord, “Help me have a holy lifestyle. One fully pleasing You.”
“Dear Lord, teach me to give the wholehearted prayer. Not to pray for relief from trials only, but to give You glory and praise.
Help me surrender to Your will. That I might be willing to hear Your voice in Your Word more than my necessary food or the list of things to do, or the loud call of the worldly news.
Give me fruit in my life of love: . . . (which I can’t do unless I cling to You.) You’re the Vine, I’m the branch.
Keep me connected to You that I might have joy when hearts are very heavy. Peace when fear is everywhere. Patience in hectic moments.
Kindness when it’s hard. Goodness, when I’m tempted not to what’s right.
Faithfulness when I don’t feel like doing something.
Gentleness when it’s impossible without the power of God in me.
Self-control when the last choice I want to make is self-control.
“There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Thank You, Lord that You are a gracious God, patient to wait for us to “be still.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen.