I Need Thee Every Hour

These last days have gotten progressively more and more stressful as I anticipate my mother moving down to live near us.  My entire attitude and spirit have been affected as I battle the easy tendency to let that stress morph into anxiety.  Over the past week, as I've prayed without ceasing, the Holy Spirit has reminded me of this passage:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

And yesterday I read in chapter 17 verse 3 of Proverbs:

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests hearts.

I was reminded of a sermon illustration: when you squeeze an orange, what comes out?  Orange juice.  When a person is squeezed, what comes out?  Often a lot of sin that needs sanctifying.  You can really tell what's inside a person when you apply an ample amount of pressure.

Today as I poured my heart out to the Lord, desiring the peace and joy that accompany the realization of the fullness and sufficiency of Christ, I praise the Lord that He relieved my anxiety so that I could say:

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, 

Your consolations delight my soul.

Psalm 94:19

Jeramy also reminded me of this passage as I take every thought captive to Christ:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8

How appropriate that a homemaking woman penned the text to the hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour!  I certainly do!

 I Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

(Refrain)

I need Thee, o I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee.

O bless me now my Savior I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.