Daily Devotional by Charlotte Adams

 I Need Thee, Oh, I need Thee; Every Hour I need Thee!

As I was reading this week one of the daily writings of Sarah Young in “Jesus Calling” centered on “trust” and “thankfulness”, the words from the old hymn noted above in the title, came flooding into my mind.  Now, I can’t explain that because I wouldn’t be able to tell you the last time I’ve even heard this song sung.  But, I do remember that it was a song that I heard often growing up, being sung in my Mom’s Baptist church.  The words were penned by Annie S. Hawks in 1872 and set to music by her Pastor, Dr. Robert Lowry.  There are four verses, each followed by this chorus:” I need Thee, oh I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee.  Oh, bless me now, my Savior.  I come to Thee”.  The endings of the four verses bring home the point of the song -  first verse: “… No tender voice like thine can peace afford; second verse: …“Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh; third verse: “… In joy or pain. Come quickly and abide or life is vain; fourth verse: “… Most Holy One. Oh, make me Thine indeed. Thou blessed Son.”
 
Sarah’s piece simply reminds us that if we trust God and express our thankfulness to Him, doing just those two things, will get us safely through each day.  Of course, that doesn’t mean only doing that as we start each day, which hopefully we all do, but exercising the choice to do that many times throughout the day as we stay focused on Him.  It means trusting Him with all that confronts us and being ever so thankful to know that He is with us, and that He’s “got our back.”  We get so easily caught up in worrying and obsessing about “stuff” and criticizing and complaining about “stuff”.  Where does that get us in the end?  It seems a much simpler solution is to entrust it to God for Him to handle as He sees fit, without any unnecessary interference on our part.
 
Be encouraged by the Truth of His Word: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,  continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”. Colossians 2:67NIV; “But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in You I take refuge”…Psalm 141:8NIV; “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”. 1Peter 5:7NIV.
 
Some of you have maybe have seen this on a plaque or read it somewhere, but I first encountered it many years ago displayed in a dining room cabinet at my older sister’s home in Virginia.  Hope the truth of it will bring a smile to your face as you read it, and hopefully,  it will help you (and me) keep our perspective daily.  “Good Morning.  This is God.  I will be handling all of your problems today.  I will NOT need your help.  So, relax and have a great day.”
 
Wishing you a very blessings-filled weekend and week to follow. We invite and would welcome you to join us Sundays at Grace Harbor for Adult Bible Study at 9:00 a.m., where the Book of Romans (Chapter 5) is currently the study, and Sunday Worship Service and Children’s Sunday School at 9:00 a.m.
 
Love In Him,
Charlotte Adams