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.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
As we live here it is easy to grow discouraged. As we see the world crumbling around us, wickedness abounding because the love of many waxes cold, many saints we once enjoyed fellowship with have forsaken the house of God and fled. As we see these notable "signs of the times," they encourage me that perhaps the Lord's return is near, but they also discourage me fearing that it isn't, and we're just experiencing the judgment of our Lord.
There is a hymn I love, it is rather mournful, but yet it strikes my soul and makes me yearn for God's reviving breath upon His kingdom, and our nation:
There is a hymn I love, it is rather mournful, but yet it strikes my soul and makes me yearn for God's reviving breath upon His kingdom, and our nation:
Will God forever cast us off? His wrath forbear to smoke
Against the people of His love, His little chosen flock.
Think of the tribes so dearly bought With the Redeemer's blood,
Nor let Thy Zion be forgot, Where once Thy glory stood.
Where once Thy churches prayed and sang Thy foes profanely rage;
Amid Thy gates their ensigns hang, And there their host engage.
And still to heighten our distress, Thy presence is withdrawn;
Thy wonted signs of pow'r and grace Thy pow'r and grace are gone.
No prophet speaks to calm our grief, But all in silence mourn;
Nor know the hour of our relief, The hour of Thy return.
This song follows Psalm 74, a psalm appropriate when we find ourselves, our churches and our nation in a desolate condition:
"O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom" (Psalm 74:1-11).
I realize we don't like negative news or a discouraging report. Yet a faithful watchman not only has to cry, "all is well, the morning comes," he must also faithfully report, "the enemy approaches, the night is long." In 21st century America when everyone rushes to the physicians for mind altering drugs to find reprieve from discouragement, depression and despair, none wants a messenger who brings a report, "all is not well."
Many times we'd prefer to take the "ostrich approach," bury our heads and pretend all is well and hope the bad times go away. However, that approach rarely accomplishes anything but a numbing from reality.
Many times we'd prefer to take the "ostrich approach," bury our heads and pretend all is well and hope the bad times go away. However, that approach rarely accomplishes anything but a numbing from reality.
Matthew 5:4 states, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
This past weekend I rejoiced to be gathered with many saints and was reminded of past times of my youth when many came to hear the word of God preached. Their heart's desire was to praise Emmanuel. Now I fear the time has come that Paul warned of:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Even we ourselves only want teachers that tell us the good, leaving off the bad. We want fairy tales (fables) that everything is OK, when it may not be. We want teachers of the Joel Osteen sort, always smiling, always positive, always unrealistic, always so "heavenly minded they serve no earthly good." Then when a messenger of God speaks the truth and warns of our condition, we turn him off, act as if he's robbed us our make-believe joy. How much more genuine joy we would have if we saw the kingdom of God as He intended it to be.
Why do we so much dread simply owning up to the fact that everything is not OK, the churches in large part are declining, and in some places, "Where once Thy churches prayed and sang Thy foes profanely rage; Amid Thy gates their ensigns hang, And there their host engage." In many churches, "No prophet speaks to calm our grief, But all in silence mourn; Nor know the hour of our relief, The hour of Thy return." And when we do recognize it as fact, why are not our spirits stirred to cry out to our Lord that we've erred, and hope that in wrath He'll remember mercy?
Why do we so much dread simply owning up to the fact that everything is not OK, the churches in large part are declining, and in some places, "Where once Thy churches prayed and sang Thy foes profanely rage; Amid Thy gates their ensigns hang, And there their host engage." In many churches, "No prophet speaks to calm our grief, But all in silence mourn; Nor know the hour of our relief, The hour of Thy return." And when we do recognize it as fact, why are not our spirits stirred to cry out to our Lord that we've erred, and hope that in wrath He'll remember mercy?
"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."
Yes, we have trials and temptations, and often trouble abounds on every side. We should not be discouraged, but should "rather mourn," take our care to Jesus and share our condition and sorrows with Him. Then we should act on our prayers and do more than cast it at Jesus' feet. We should live up to the gospel mark and show we mean our prayers, and that our mourning is authentic by acting, and moving forward in all the commands of Jesus.
Perhaps then where once churches prayed and sang they'll sing and pray again. Perhaps the foes will be turned to Christ, or at least find the Sword of the Spirit turned against them. Perhaps the prophets would speak to calm our grief, and afflict the terrible. Maybe then we'll love sound doctrine instead of fairy tale fantasies and our mourning be turned to comfort and rejoicing. After we've "rather mourned," we'll rather rejoice. Where once we cried asking for pity, we'll cry out, "our cups runneth over."
Perhaps then where once churches prayed and sang they'll sing and pray again. Perhaps the foes will be turned to Christ, or at least find the Sword of the Spirit turned against them. Perhaps the prophets would speak to calm our grief, and afflict the terrible. Maybe then we'll love sound doctrine instead of fairy tale fantasies and our mourning be turned to comfort and rejoicing. After we've "rather mourned," we'll rather rejoice. Where once we cried asking for pity, we'll cry out, "our cups runneth over."
2 comments:
Ok, I've read this post over and over several times trying to figure out what to say. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and focusing on the words to these two hymns.
I guess the only thing to say in response to such a well-written, truthful, convicting, and sincere post is, "Amen and let's pray."
May the Lord hear our cries, answer our petitions, and bless our actions.
I've had several pieces of mournful news this week or so. And it seems to be so very easy for me to fall into much sadness over being so very far from my family and home. This was a good and needful reminder for me. Thank you!
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