I glanced at the clock. There was still some time before I started a busy day. I flipped my Bible to Psalm 91. The words entered my head, but my mind was on my next task. After going through the chapter, I closed it and mentally checked Bible reading off my list.
Oh, how often I disparage and neglect guarding the precious moments with my Savior! His Word is better than gold and silver (Ps. 119:72), each is sweeter than honey to my mouth (Ps. 119:103) – for through His Word, He made Himself known unto me (Jhn 15:15-16).
When skies darken and the road is rough, His Word shouts at me that He is my strength (Ps. 73:26). And when the clouds smile and birds sing, He whispers to me of His sustaining hand (Lam. 3:22-23). When the same road splits in two with a haze covering what’s ahead, His lamp lights my direction one step at a time.
However, when I am enticed and I run away from Him, His Word pierces my heart imploring, “Come back!” With my head down, I return to Him. Although He chides me, His Word pardons me, setting me where I need to belong, beside Him (Heb. 12:5-6).
When sorrow overwhelms me with pain, His Word embraces me with His promises. And when He is silent, I desperately dig into the Word only to meet His still small voice (1 Kgs 19:12). At other times, I am silent together with Him, sitting in His presence (Is. 26:3). Merely being with Him swells my heart with love – His love – and I delight myself in Him (Ps. 37:4).
Just as He departed into a solitary place (Mk. 1:35), I meet Him there with my prayers of praises and thanks, from the smallest request to the greatest, for my brothers and sisters in Him, and for those who are not in Him. But when I can’t find my words, He groans for me (Rom. 8:26). And even when words do form within me, I talk with Him from my rising until I sleep.
He listens to my greatest fears and sees my smallest faith. He weeps when His heart is moved with my grief (Jhn. 11:35). Even in the midst of the evening, He is ready to receive my pleas and hold me in His arms, so that I can sing His joy (Hab. 3:18). And He laughs and rejoices with me.
Each day, I eat the bread of His Word and pray without ceasing (Matt. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:17). And each day, He fights battles for me (Ex. 14:14). He teaches me about life by showing me how to live. He takes my hand and leads me after the footsteps of His wounded body and pierced hands (Gal. 2:20). Because without His payment and victory over death, I cannot commune with Him in my quiet time. And without His death, how can others see Him living in me? How can I lay down my life for my friends without loving Him? (Jhn. 15:13).
Alas! Without Him, I would walk the path of death. Alone. Eternally.
I glanced at the clock. There was still some time before a busy day. Nonetheless, that could be settled later because there was Someone I longed to be with. Someone whom I desired to listen and talk with.
I opened my Bible.
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” – John 15:15 (KJV)
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What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven
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 your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
