Prayer Day 3: Everything to God in Prayer By Kim Hopmann

​“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
                                                                         – Jude 20-21

What a privilege to call our Lord, our Savior, the God of the universe…our intimate friend! We can go to him in prayer anytime, anywhere. He is as close as our very breath. While preparing this devotion, one treasured old hymn kept gently reminding me to take “everything to God in prayer.” May these beautiful verses, written by Joseph M. Scriven (1820-1886), which brought so much comfort and blessings to generations before us, comfort and bless you, today!

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
all our sins and griefs to bear! 
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 thy 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.
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Prayer: Precious Savior, thank you for the gift of prayer and communion with you that is never-ending. Thank you for being my strength and my refuge in times of need. Keep me filled with your Holy Spirit and taking everything to you in prayer. Amen.

Thought for the Day:  Proverbs 18:24 “...but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” And HE is just a breath prayer away. 

Written by Kim Hopmann

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