7 July 2024: “Soften my heart, Lord”

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

7 July 2024

Welcome

“The more we seek the Lord, the more we come closer to Him and receive His blessings. We give Him the glory and magnify His holy name for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Stella

Worship

© 1991 Thankyou Music, written by Noel Richards

Word

“Soften my heart Lord”

If we are going to pray this prayer then we must be open to the ways that the Lord seeks to do this. One way is to get away from all the hustle and bustle of life, and all those things in life that can dull our spiritual senses and to be alone with Him. Jesus, had the most tender of all hearts and we read this about Him, He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed, e.g.

Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:15-16

This was not just a one-off occurrence for we read many times of Jesus doing this, it was His regular practice, e.g.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.

Mark 1:35

Having just fed the five thousand we read:

After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone. [cf. Mk. 6:46];

Matt. 14:23

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed.

Luke 22:39-41

Jesus sometimes prayed through the night:

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Luke 6:12

… Jesus was praying in private …

Luke 9:18

Personally, I find such times invaluable. It’s remarkable how when I start off with time alone with the Lord, I can feel quite exhausted but after a time spiritual strength has returned.

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

This was especially true during my time in India, for I was continually travelling around evangelising with a team of up to eleven others and working amongst the vast number of people living there. The most important parts of the day were those of having searched amidst all the many, many, people milling about in the towns and cities, for a solitary place, and having found one, to spend an hour alone in His Presence. How different we are at the end of that hour. What seemed insurmountable issues, suddenly were put into perspective, His perspective. Oh, the peace, the stillness, the joy, the blessing of one hour alone in His beautiful Presence, Amen

Quote of the week

“Pray not for crutches but for wings.”

Phillips Brooks

Verse of the week

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, soften our hearts by Your tender Holy Spirit within; make us more and more like Your Son, in all our ways and especially in our devotion to You. Remind us Lord to leave the crowds and get alone with You, in Jesus Christ, Amen.