When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.[1]
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”[2] _________________________________________
Beloved,
I pray you find yourself singing many times day after day, “Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art! Yes![3] “Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art! Indeed, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!”[4] In the midst of God’s unchanging mercy, we echo with the psalmist, “Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.[5]
Sister/brother, be encouraged through your struggles and sufferings, especially as you embrace, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”[6] In Christ, we know a true joy is the result of a transformed heart. When suffering comes our transformed position does not change. Our feelings do change with circumstances. In fact, we rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Because of our merciful and compassionate God, our position In Christ is a constant. Therefore, “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
I am called, so too are you In Christ, to be “Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”[7] Moreover, as I perceive a need may I be continuously faithful to, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”[8] I thank our gracious God for his transforming power! Grace has allowed me to be on the receiving end of this practical truth this week. So very thankful for faithful and genuine brothers and sisters In Christ!
As you are reading, I sincerely pray you are able to have a sustained joy and peace in the midst of every storm inherent in this life. It is tough, I struggle. However, our God is never changing, always merciful with an unfailing love. Like the psalmist [David], I cry out to our gracious God for mercy, not only for myself, but for others who are suffering, especially those in my sphere of influence. In Christ, you do too.
We believe our prayers matter and indeed faithful prayers are orchestrated, answered, and even an integral part of God’s sovereign plan. In other words, as we faithfully pray we anticipate God’s mercy, even a pure heart and renewed steadfast spirit, as he determines. If we fail to cry out and forego unceasing prayer, we can’t anticipate God to move on our behalf or on behalf of others. Therefore, let’s keep praying and trust our Lord to act as he determines. Whatever the outcome, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
___________________________________
Sisters are meeting to pray! :). First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
Join faithful gals In Christ to encourage and practically love one another. Faithful prayer week after week will only be completely realized the other side of heaven. However, how precious and necessary to ask, seek and knock before the throne of God. I am very thankful for a few or many sisters who faithfully pray for our churches, pastors, the body of Christ, etc., May God bless our efforts as we trust and obey, humbly before the throne we worship and intentionally cry out with varied prayers and requests.
Brothers are meeting too! Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0730.
Diverse brothers who share a mutual, ever growing, vibrant, living faith! We meet to encourage one another and intentionally pray. A sweet hour of prayer! The first 15 min or so we interact, catch up, or just be… As the Holy Spirit leads, hungry to hear, sense, engage in the discipline of prayer for the remaining hour… brothers embrace the silence, sing out in song, cry out in desperation week after week. Right on! Our echo is with the psalmist, “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”[9] Feel free to join brothers in prayer.
Your brother In Christ,
Randall:).
[1] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/[2] Psalm 51:1-2
[3]http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/o/w/how_great_Thou_art.htm
[4]http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Blessed_Assurance/
[5] Psalm 30:4-5
[6] Nehemiah 8:10
[7] Romans 12:12
[8] Ibid. v. 13
[9] Psalm 52:9