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I Need Thee Every Hour!

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins
may be wiped away. 
 Then times of refreshment will
come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your
appointed Messiah
. Acts 3:19-20.
Oh, the joy of refreshment!  The world offers temporary refreshment, but
nothing lasts.  Once we have experienced
His Presence, we long to know more of God! 
We long for the Joy of knowing He is with us.  How is it possible for Him to be with so many
of His children at the same moment? Mysteries of His great love never end. 
         In our weakness, He is strong. 2
Corinthians 12:9 – is the answer Apostle Paul received when he asked for
deliverance from the thorn in his flesh. Each time He said, “My grace is all
you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast
about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
         Sometimes I wonder why we cannot see our Lord God. How often
a painter chooses God’s creation to paint or photograph.  Is it because God’s Creation represents God’s
Presence and faithful Love for us.  God’s
Presence is not just knowing in a gathering of believers.  It is seeing pure joy in the face of an
innocent child, in the tired gaze of a weary soul in a nursing home, or in the
celebration of Jesus through the menial tasks of giving, in the name of Jesus.
         Brother
Lawrence, in “Practicing the Presence of
God
”, conversed continually with God, while working in a monastery kitchen.  God is not available only one day a week, or
at meal times.  He walks with us. We can
call on Him day or night. He is with us when something is broken, including our
hearts.  He brings comfort and
guidance. 
         We
profess a love for food and earthly possessions.  We often cannot fathom the depth of God’s faithful
love for us. God IS Love and the essence of love. His love is forever and not
for a time or season!
         Love
flows like a river from God.  Man cannot
legislate or demand Love. Love is above man’s demands and boundaries.  Love is only absent when we choose to deny
the Presence of God.
         It
is when we realize we are made whole through following Jesus, we begin to experience
His Presence.  And we sing the hymn, “I need Thee, Oh, How I need Thee, I need
Thee every hour.  O, bless me now, my
Savior, I come to Thee!”
         Annie
Sherwood Hawks, born in 1835, wrote these lyrics.  She began writing poetry at the age of
fourteen and shared her verses to a variety of newspapers. She married Charles
Hawks in 1859 and raised three children.
         One warm June day, she was working at a
household task, and became filled with the sense of the nearness of Jesus. She thought
and wondered how one can live without Jesus – in joy or in pain.
         The truth came to her, “I Need Thee
Every Hour!” She wrote verses of her heart-felt need of Jesus. Robert Lowry
wrote the music and added the chorus to her verses declaring her need of Jesus.
Annie Hawks continued to write forty more hymns. “I Need Thee Every Hour” is her
most well-known hymn.
         Expressing a need is the beginning of
submission. Why is it so difficult to submit in our culture? We are taught from
an early age to be independent. “I can do it by myself,” is an often-heard
phrase. We often boast we are self-made, and we pulled ourselves up by our
‘boot-straps.  Even the answer to, “How
are you?” brings out self-bravado.  “I’m
just fine.” Humility, the foundation of submission is replaced by pride.
         In the same way, you who are younger must
accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in
humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud
 but gives grace to
the humble.”
 So humble yourselves under
the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
I Peter 5:5-6
         Are
we wise? Or do we stumble in despair and desperation — walking alone and searching
for the presence of God? Or will we sing with Annie Hawks, “I need Thee!”
         “I need thee, every hour!  And the minutes between.  Guide me and lead me with every step I
take.  Only in you, I am made holy.  In life and death, help me to lift my heart
in praise and joy to You only!  Make my
mundane moments of life into glorious praise and peace! For You, and You alone
are Worthy!” 
1 –
I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
2 –
I need Thee ev’ry hour, Stay Thou nearby
Temptation
love their pow’r, When Thou art nigh.
3 –
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
4 -I
need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
Psalm 38:8-10 – Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Oh, the joys of
those who take refuge in him!
 Fear the Lord,
you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even
strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. 
         Psalm 109:30-31 – But I will give repeated
thanks to the Lord, praising
him to everyone.
 For he stands beside the needy, ready
to save them from those who condemn them.
         Luke 12:29-31 – “And don’t be
concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such
things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the
world, but your Father already knows your needs. 
 Seek the Kingdom of God above
all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
         Hebrews 9:35-37 – So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the
great reward it brings you! 
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will
continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. 
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not
delay. 

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