Day 14 - What a Friend! by Pastor Tim Escamilla

"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.
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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."

Throughout this dedication as I begin to write these posts, I begin with the thought, "What a Friend we have in Jesus." This was completely evident with last Sunday's post, focusing on the awe and wonder that Jesus produces in us. What a Friend we've found! What a Friend we don't deserve. What a Friend He is to us! He said He longer calls us servants but friends (John 15). 

What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer! He wants us to bring all our glories and worries, all our petitions and griefs, all our restlessness and sins to Him in prayer. What a Friend He is to us, that even when we are doing things CONTRARY to His will, instead of pushing us away, He longs for us to bring them to Him, our Friend. 

When we come to Him in prayer, He wants us to have the same kind of intimacy we have with our closest friends. He wants us to come to Him with everything. Every trial, temptation, and trouble should be brought before Him, our Friend. He is faithful, and He knows our every weakness; why not simply take them to Him in prayer? 

I am in awe of Him. He's not only our Friend, but He's our God. He's the Creator of everything we see. He's got the whole world in His hands, and by Him all things exist! And yet, He's available to us in prayer all the time. So I encourage you: make a habit of bringing everything to Him in prayer. Bring it all to Him. He's all ears. He's listening to your prayer. And He's your Friend. He's my friend. I say this with much awe and wonder, what a Friend we have in Jesus! 

-Pastor Tim Escamilla