Showing posts with label a prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a prayer. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Wake In Me (a Careful Wanting)

 Life is like a flower blooming on the grave that claims it due...



***

I love the group of fellow-believers I gather with
every Tuesday night, to open God's Word together,
to learn, to worship, to meditate on God's goodness and holiness,
 and to challenge and encourage each other in our walk by faith!

***
This morning my devotion included this glorious passage from Titus 3-
(which is kind of a continuance of our focus/discussion last night; 
God's holiness and our response/attitude in return
and our assurance of salvation through His shed blood)

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, 
but because of his mercy. 
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, 
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, 
so that those who have trusted in God may be careful 
to devote themselves to doing what is good. 
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

***

A Prayer...
Wake in me a careful wanting for a heart, humble and true
Shield me from the futile flaunting of the follies of this world
Fill me, through Your word with wonder at the holiness of You
Awe me with the sacred splendor of love’s Majesty unfurled

Show me, oh, my precious Savior, (lest I stray) the way to walk
Let me not forget hope’s favor You suffered at Calvary
Fix my eyes in the direction of the cross You did not balk
Make my life like a reflection of the love that pardoned Me

Let no carnal care consume me with love’s opportunity
Life is like a flower blooming on the grave that claims it due
Thus Lord, wake a careful wanting for more of Your love for me
May it thwart the tempter’s taunting because of my love for You

© Janet Martin



 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Of Dialogue Unseen

Nothing we do, no matter how noble, or enjoyable, or profitable
can/should take the place of 
fellowship with the One who made and knows us completely!
Sometimes when I feel busy its tempting to 'skip' a time
of morning fellowship with my/our Giver of every good and perfect gift!
How foolish to choose to settle for less of Him 
on those days we need more of Him! 

Yesterday I enjoyed some mid-winter canning!


I schnitzed the last of the apples from our tree...

...because it looks like the temperatures are going to dip enough
that the produce I was still storing in the garage, might freeze.

I turned some of the cabbage, carrots and onions into another batch of veggie soup!


Below,  little spinoff from this morning's quiet fellowship with my Best Friend

Ps.139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: 
try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, 
and lead me in the way everlasting.



Lord, hearer of lament
Beholder of my heart
Discerner of thought and intent
You do not see in part

…but know all things. You look
Beyond what love pretends
My life is like an open book
That no excuse defends

Lord, nothing can replace
The fellowship between
The Taker and Giver of grace
In dialogue unseen

Through You the branch bears fruit
Faith can no proxy plead
Prayer has no equal substitute
To satisfy its need

Unless Thy Word prevails
And Thy laws I embrace
In vain I hoist devotion’s sails
In vain I state my case

O Lord, search my lament
You see and know my heart
Thou, Discerner  of thought's intent
How very great Thou art
  
© Janet Martin



 Psalm 139:1-6 & 13-18

O LORD, You have searched me

and known me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

You understand my thoughts from afar.

3You search out my path and my lying down;

You are aware of all my ways.

4Even before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, O LORD.

5You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain...


For You formed my inmost being;a

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works,

and I know this very well.

15My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

when I was woven together

in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all my days were written in Your book

and ordained for me

before one of them came to be...


How precious to me are Your thoughts,b O God,

how vast is their sum!

18If I were to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;

and when I awake,

I am still with You.


Thursday, January 11, 2024

Then, Help Me Lean on You Again (A Prayer)

 for this snow-soft winter morning, I thank-you Lord...🎜🎝




Seldom can I recall lines from the night before, the following morning 
unless I jot them down .
The first two lines of today's poem, first introduced
 as I was getting into bed last night
were still with me when I awoke this morning!
This is my prayer for me and you
as we learn to lean on God's arms again and again.




I want to walk with You today
And talk with You along the way
In all I do I want to see
The evidence of You with/in me

I want to think on things I should
And speak only words sound and good
In all I say I want to hear
Your still, small Voice to commandeer

I want to trust in You alone
To help me through each day’s unknown
In all I face I want to know
Your gift of grace whereby I go

Father in Heaven I thank You
For Your Presence, faithful and true
Then help me lean on You again
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen

© Janet Martin

Ps.89:14-16
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.



Lyrics
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer

1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter's snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
the joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
where God my Savior shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Monday, December 25, 2023

Lord, As We Linger in the Presence of Christ's Sacred Birth, (A Christmas Prayer)

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, 
who came from the Father, 
full of grace and truth.

From our House to Yours
Joyous Christmas Blessings~


Lord, as we come, like shepherds and wise men of old this morn
To gather in the stable where Christ, our Saviour was born
Waken a sweeter wonder as our gifts of worship ring
Renew a humbler hunger for the hope you came to bring

Lord, as we haste to see the Baby in a manger bed
And gaze on He who came as sin’s atonement in our stead
Impress on us anew love’s allotment of joy and grief
Then kindle purer gratitude, abolish unbelief

Lord, as we kneel before You, let the incense of prayers rise
In utter adoration, as we consider faith’s Prize
Deliver us from evil, tune our hearts to hear Your Voice
Where this dark world seeks to drown angel-anthems of 'rejoice!'

Lord, as we linger in the Presence of Christ’s sacred Birth
As You unveil Your glory in the highest to the earth
As we behold Your glory, full of grace and truth, Lord, then
Increase in us glad tidings of peace and goodwill. Amen

© Janet Martin

Luke 2:8-20

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.





Monday, December 4, 2023

An Overwhelming Plea...


Without God's word to minister hope to the soul
Monday morning could feel like an
overwhelming weight-lifting exercise!

Thank-you God, for Your indwelling Spirit,
for the glorious riches in Christ Jesus
 to overwhelm our need!
 



I need You, Lord, Your whisper to bid worry’s tempest cease
To conquer overwhelming dread with overwhelming peace
To comfort overwhelming grief with overwhelming love
To help unbelief with belief this world knows nothing of

I need you, Lord, to quell the fear that seeks faith, to destroy
Love’s overwhelming sorrow cheer with overwhelming joy
And should Your higher ways impart a cross, pride to abase
Lord, overwhelm my wicked heart with overwhelming grace

I need your overwhelming hope to overwhelm despair
Your promises to help me cope through overwhelming prayer
Lest ignorance makes me uncouth and wise in my own eyes
I need Your overwhelming truth to expose Satan’s lies

I need Your Word to overwhelm word-storms of worldly vice
Your overwhelming strength to transform Self to sacrifice
Your overwhelming Light to pierce death-dark veneers of dust
And shatter overwhelming sight with overwhelming trust

I need you, Lord, to overwhelm my overwhelming need
To overwhelm my whelming cry with mercy’s tender creed/reed
Enfold trouble and strife beneath Your overwhelming Wing
And overwhelm me with Your life where death has lost its sting

Hallelujah,
Amen

© Janet Martin

Phil.4:19-20
And my God will supply all your needs
 according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 
Amen.

Monday, October 30, 2023

Father In Heav'n (Yet Near Enough...)

Ps.9:1-2 &8- 9
(read the whole glorious chapter here)

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High...

...The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Oh how our hearts groan as we pray 
for cares close to home and far away...

(yet, oh so near!)

I began this poem bright and early but the New Furnace Installers arrived
bright and early as well!
And because the computer, where I write is right in the main living area
where they were constantly walking through
I decided to finish it after they finished, 
which turns out to be tonight!

This poem was inspired in part as the very familiar opening to The Lord's Prayer
filled me with fresh wonder!!



Father in Heav’n, (yet near enough to hear Thought’s heart-borne plea)
How oft, with reverence and love, through living’s high and low
We pour before Thy throne of grace, our praise and agony
There You restore our souls so we can face faith’s cunning foe
Where, without You vainly we grope for hope and comfort true
For, hopeless is all hope without the hope we find in You

Father in Heav’n, (yet near enough to catch a falling tear)
No circumstance transcends Your love that reconciles and saves
Goodness and mercy’s author, You tread on dread’s storms of fear
When doubt’s dark tempests bother, You rebuke its wind and waves
As, through the power of your Word You fit us for the day
Faithful and true, You undergird all who trust and obey

Father in Heav’n (yet near enough to be our constant Stay)
Your love, an everlasting love that calls us all by name
You came to seek the lost, for all like sheep have gone astray
And though you knew the cost you did no King’s exemption claim
But suffered in our stead the price, redemption’s crown to win
Once and for all, the sacrifice that broke the curse of sin

Father in Heav’n, (yet near enough to know our every need)
Deliver us from evil with Your love that will not fail
When we do not know how to pray, Lord, kindly intercede
Remind us, come whatever may, Your purpose will prevail
No enemy can intercept what love has overcome
Father in Heav’n, (yet near enough to lead us gently home)

Amen

© Janet Martin









Tuesday, October 24, 2023

To Keep Want's Wish-list Undeterred


This may look like a common to-do list, 
but there is an underlying wish-list/prayer
that, in all I (we) do,
to be a (broken, mended, scarred and chipped)
vessel God's love pours through...

Dear Lord,

Not one step do I want to dare
To take outside Thy tender care
Nor do I want to boast, save in
Thy Son, who broke the curse of sin

Let me not treasure any Thing
Above my Savior's suffering
Who, on the cross of Calvary

Let me pursue no fonder goal
Than the dwelling place of my soul
And let me crave nothing above
A heart, through which You pour Your love

...to kindle delight in Your Word
To keep Want’s wish-list undeterred
Desiring that in all I do
Your Light of 'Christ in me', shines through

That, 'thanks to God who always leads'
Your faithful triumph intercedes
For I am nothing on my own
Then, let me live for You alone
Amen

© Janet Martin

Let your light so shine before men, 
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt.5:16

Outdoor chores are taking priority these day!
Yesterday I pulled the sunflowers, prepping the garden for the neighbor to haul fertilizer,
 aka manure 😉on it whenever he is ready!
But, not wanting to discard of this beautiful, bountiful buffet for the birds 
the fence offers a perfect prop for non-stop feeding and
viewing pleasure!





Sometimes my husband calls to see what I am working on..
He wondered, this morning, where today's poem-inspiration came from.
Partly from this devotion in my Utmost for His Highest...



Friday, September 1, 2023

Precious Provision

Ps.63:1-8

O God, You are my God.

Earnestly I seek You;

my soul thirsts for You.

My body yearns for You

in a dry and weary land without water.

2So I have seen You in the sanctuary

and beheld Your power and glory.

3Because Your loving devotion is better than life,

my lips will glorify You.

4So I will bless You as long as I live;

in Your name I will lift my hands.

5My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.

6When I remember You on my bed,

I think of You through the watches of the night.

7For You are my help;

I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.

8My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.


 Be Thou My Vision



Thy hand of protection
Thy Voice of conviction
Thy rod of correction
I pray
Thy Word for direction
To gird faith’s subjection
And stir glad reflection
Today

Thy name, a strong tower
Thy love to empower
Thy goodness to shower
My plea
Thy grace for salvation
Thy glory, creation
To kindle elation
In Thee

Thy judgement to fear Thee
Thy promise to cheer me
Thy mercy to hear me
Again
Thy wonder to thrill me
Thy peace to instill me
Thy joy to fulfill me
Amen

© Janet Martin

Ps.139:17-18
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
 If I should count them, 
they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.



Tuesday, August 8, 2023

A Prayer (as I prepare to face the day)

Oh! The precious, purifying, perplexing,
pressing, peace-pursuing, power-instilling
cross in prayer...

 

Above, Aug. 6 devotion from My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers

Some days, for some reason it takes more discipline
 to corral a galloping stampede of thoughts , duties and desires, into quiet prayer...
This morning I struggled to find new words for old pleas of well-worn repetition!
Then I remembered 'he knows my needs before I ask'
better than I do, and supplies them!
He understands what it takes to fortify my fumbling stutters of faith 
Hallelujah and thank You, Lord



Ps.90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

 In Jesus' Name, I Pray


Our Father, who art in Heaven
Ever hallowed by Thy name
By Thy grace I am forgiven
Free from guilt’s defeat and shame
Today, Lord, I pray, remind me
Of the love that will not fail
For Thy light, before, behind me
For Thy purpose to prevail

For protection and direction
For Thy Word within my heart
To perfect my meditation
For, how wonderful Thou art
For more faith and not more answers
For Thy rod, lest my feet slip
For more love toward my neighbor
For Thy armor to equip

For gladness for Thy salvation
To satisfy all my days
Lead me not into temptation
But anoint each breath with praise
Grant me strength for toil’s demanding
Yet, make me weak so I lean
Not upon my understanding
But upon Thy arm unseen

Let Thy law be my desire
Let Thy Word be my delight
Let Thy promises inspire
Hope no trial can requite
Let Thy goodness full of mercy
Follow me through all my days
Let me be hungry and thirsty
For Thy righteousness, always

Satisfy my 'poor in spirit'
With Thy everlasting love
When I cry, O Lord, You hear it
Let this knowledge be enough
To instill me with Thy comfort
To cast all my cares on Thee
Till we gather at a banquet
In Heaven’s eternity

Lord, my Lord, so many wander
Like lost sheep, hearts hard and numb
Pray, before Thou bidst them yonder
They will hear Thy voice, and ‘come’
To still waters and green pastures
To the joy faith will receive
Freed from sin’s death-cursed disaster
As they repent and believe

Lord, by Thy humble example
Pray, may all who follow You
Not cause another to stumble
By the things we say and do
But by the grace Thou hast given
Let faith, hope, and love proclaim
Our Father, who art in heaven
Ever hallowed be Thy Name

For Thine is the kingdom,
The power and glory
Forever and ever,
Amen

© Janet Martin

Matt.6:5-13
And when you pray, you shall not be like the [b]hypocrites.
 For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets,
 that they may be seen by men. 
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 
6But you, when you pray, go into your room, 
and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
 and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [c]openly.
  7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. 
For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8“Therefore do not be like them. 
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
  9In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
[d]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 
Amen.


Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Perpetual Appeal

 A portion of some Psalm-reading...

from chapters 16-20...

and today's devotion from My Utmost for His Highest,

are part of what inspired today's prayer-poem,
because if I am honest and because God sees my heart
He knows my most earnest need...more love for Thee


With reverence and awe and praise
Honing humility
I have one plea, Lord, all my days
Increase my love for Thee

With wonder for Your love for me
Bid me heed Thy command
And keep my eyes fixed upon Thee
And joys at Thy right hand

Guard me from that which blinds desire
To pleasures evermore
The heat of love's refining fire
Oh, let me not abhor

Lord, let me unswervingly hold
To Thy judgments so true
For they are dearer than fine gold,
Sweeter than honey too

Open my eyes to see anew
That which should be most dear
And lest I have gods before You
Increase beholden fear

Lord, let the power of Thy word
Be all the strength I seek
And let the life Thy death incurred
Make every motive meek

Without complaint or dread, bid me
Take up my cross with praise
And a vision of Calvary
Always before my gaze

How great the loss, should I pursue
Anything else beside
And strive to fill my need for You
With selfishness and pride

Thus, as I think upon these things
Lord, hear my humble plea
In whatever this new day brings
Increase my love for Thee

Amen

© Janet Martin

So sharing this often-before-shared hymn seems fitting...



“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).

Monday, April 24, 2023

Embarking-On-a-New Day-or-Week Prayer

Aren't you thankful for rich legacies preserved 
either in books or by modern technology?!!
 One of my 'dearest friends' I never met,
(or spoke to, though his messages often spoke to me,)
 passed away last week...


Does this phrase ring tenderly in your ears too, 
as we mourn the precious passing of a faithful Pastor/preacher?
"Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him"
Dr. Charles Stanley~

Below, a touching tribute to Dr. Charles Stanley by In Touch Ministries


Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

We are not all preachers or pastors but all believers are ministers of God's Word.
This morning's poem is a prayer, that barely skims the surface of my heart's cry,
as I seek to try to do my part to
"Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him"

I'm so thankful for God's Word and for faithful fellow-believers
as we never get too old to learn, 
(often through stumbles and fumbles/mistakes)

Dear Lord, I pray, lead me today in paths of righteousness
And let Thy everlasting way my sole/soul’s objective be
Protect me from promiscuous pitfalls of idleness
But bid humility commit to love and honor Thee

Search me and know my heart, try me, and know each fruit-fraught thought
And see if there be any wicked way in me to purge
Lord, the spirit is willing but the fickle flesh is not
Oh, let Thy law instilling me dissect desire’s urge

Whatever I achieve today (always, but by Thy grace)
Help me obey and leave in Thy kind care the consequence
Help me to trust Thy Word; worldly logic is blind and base
Remind me of the undeterred reply of recompense

Dear Lord, I pray for all who seek to daily follow Thee
Help us to turn the other cheek and not to wrath give way
Vengeance is Thine; Lord Thou art just; beyond the bit we see
Awaits the Prize for all who trust, endure, believe, obey

Dear Lord, as I embark upon this new Today once more
How merciful Thou art; kindle my heart with awe again
Lest I neglect to do the part You created me for
To love Thee first and then my neighbor as myself. Amen

© Janet Martin

Psalm 139:23-24 KJV
Search me, O God, and know my heart: 
Try me, and know my thoughts: 
And see if there be any wicked way in me,
 And lead me in the way everlasting.

(the same prayer in the 'we/us' version)

Dear Lord, we pray, lead us today in paths of righteousness
And let Thy everlasting way our sole/soul’s objective be
Protect us from promiscuous pitfalls of idleness
But bid humility commit to love and honor Thee

Search us and know our hearts, try us, and know each fruit-fraught thought
And see if there be any wicked way in us to purge
Lord, the spirit is willing but the fickle flesh is not
Oh, let Thy law instilling us dissect desire’s urge

Whatever we achieve today (always, but by Thy grace)
Help us obey and leave in thy kind care the consequence
Help us to trust Your Word; worldly logic is blind and base
Remind us of the undeterred reply of recompense

Dear Lord, we pray for all who seek to daily follow Thee
Help us to turn the other cheek and not to wrath give way
Vengeance is Thine; Lord Thou art just; beyond the bit we see
Awaits the Prize for all who trust, endure, believe, obey

Dear Lord, as we embark upon this new Today once more
How merciful Thou art; kindle our hearts with awe again
Lest we neglect to do the part You created us for
To love Thee first and then our neighbor as ourselves. Amen

© Janet Martin