Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness...

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. -Romans 8:26-27

It is not necessary to maintain a conversation when we are in the presence of God. We can come into His presence and rest our weary souls in quiet contemplation of Him. Our groanings, which cannot be uttered, rise to Him and tell Him better than words how dependent we are upon Him. -O. Hallesby

Jesus, Your Mercy

 

Jesus, Your Mercy 

Sovereign Grace Music

Verse 1

Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea

I have no defense, my guilt runs too deep

The best of my works pierced Your hands and Your feet

Jesus, Your mercy is all my plea

Verse 2

Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast

The goodness I claim, the grounds of my hope

Whatever I lack it’s still what I need most

Jesus, Your mercy is all my boast

Chorus

Praise the King who bore my sin

Took my place when I stood condemned

Oh how good You’ve always been to me

I will sing of Your mercy

Verse 3

Jesus, Your mercy is all my rest

When fears weigh me down and enemies press

A comfort I cling to in life and in death

Jesus Your mercy is all my rest

Verse 4

Jesus, your mercy is all my joy

Forever I’ll lift my heart and my voice

To sing of a treasure no pow’r can destroy

Jesus, your mercy is all my joy

O Lord, God of my salvation...

O Lord, God of my salvation,

 I cry out day and night before you.

Let my prayer come before you;

    incline your ear to my cry!

   -Psalm 88:1-2

Begin to realize more and more that prayer is the most important thing you do; and that you can use your time to no better advantage than to pray whenever you have an opportunity to do so, either alone or with others, while at work, while at rest, or while walking down the street. Anywhere!  

-O. Hallesby

When you walk through fire...

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

 and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

-Isaiah 43:2

As sure as ever God puts his children in the furnace, He will be in the furnace with them.  -CH Spurgeon 

Humility and love...

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly,

    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 -Isaiah 57:15

Humility and love are precisely the graces which the men of the world can understand, if they do not comprehend doctrines. They are the graces about which there is no mystery, and they are within reach of all classes. The poorest... Christian can every day find occasion for practicing love and humility.  

-J.C. Ryle 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -2 Corinthians 5:17

Christianity does not consist in any partial amendment of our lives, any particular moral virtues, but in an entire change of our natural temper, a life wholly devoted to God. -William Law Image

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits...

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

    and in his word I hope;

 my soul waits for the Lord

    more than watchmen for the morning...

-Psalm 130:5-6

Faith is that which, knowing the Lord’s will, goes and does it; or, not knowing it, stands and waits, content in ignorance as in knowledge, because God wills; neither pressing into the hidden future, nor careless of the knowledge which opens the path of action.  -George MacDonald Image

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land...

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,

    who do his just commands;

seek righteousness; seek humility;

    perhaps you may be hidden

    on the day of the anger of the Lord.

  -Zephaniah 2:3

To be prayerless is to be without God, without Christ, without grace, without hope, and without heaven.  -J.C. Ryle

How Long, O Lord, How Long?

How Long, O Lord, How Long? (Psalm 13) 

 Sovereign Grace Music

VERSE 1

O Lord, our God, to You we come

Will You still hide Your face?

We cry before You and on our knees we pray

How long, O Lord, how long?

 

VERSE 2

Our sorrows leave us weak and worn

Surrounded by our fears

We look to heaven through feeble faith and tears

How long, O Lord, how long?

 

CHORUS

Till Your glory fills our eyes

And our faith is turned to sight

Till our thirsty souls are satisfied

How long, O Lord, how long?

 

VERSE 3

Our foes and enemies rejoice

Injustice seems to reign

Lord, we are shaken and we are losing strength

How long, O Lord, how long?

 

VERSE 4

But we will trust Your steadfast love

Your grace will be our song

You bring new mercies with ev’ry rising sun

How long, O Lord, how long?

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints...

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

    and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment,

    and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

    but joy comes with the morning.

     -Psalm 30:4-5

Pray without ceasing...

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

I have quitted all forms of devotion and set prayers but those to which my state obliges me. And I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to God, which I may call an actual presence of God; or, to speak better, an habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God, which often causes in me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them, and prevent their appearance to others.  -Brother Lawrence

We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus...

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  -Hebrews 10:19-22

Ransomed men need no longer pause in fear to enter the Holy of Holies. God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held, it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of every day.   -A.W. Tozer