I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I Need Thee Every Hour
By: Annie S. Hawks, 1836-1911 (1872)
Listen to this beautiful piano version as you read, or watch the video then read. Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.
So here we are again, declaring our need of God. There is a beautiful flow through this stanza. Know God’s will, understand His promises, then see them fulfilled. We must make certain we do not get these things out of order because that can influence our ability to see them clearly in our lives. Let’s tune our hearts.
Sequence
It is unusual that one verse of Scripture so clearly is captured in the stanza of a hymn. There are countless illusions to different Scriptures in every stanza of most hymns, but this stanza ends up being nearly a paraphrase of one verse in particular.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 ESV
Do you see it?
- We need God
- We do His will
- His promises are given
- His promises are fulfilled
What an incredible sequence of events! But let’s be careful. Though this is essentially a promise of God, there is no guarantee on the timeline, and certainly no assurance given that we get to dictate which promises, only that we will receive what is promised when we endure and do His will.
There is a sense in which it is like dominoes. One leads to the next in an inextricable sequence. The only issue is that God is in control of how the dominoes are set-up, when they begin to fall, what their design looks like, etc. We are invited to enter into the sequence, but we are not in control.
The Scripture, and the sequence it outlines, is true. Can you think of a time when you experienced this truth? You discovered God’s will. You endured to see His will done in your life. You positioned yourself to receive what was promised.
Think of the life of Christ. It is quite plainly the greatest expression of this sequence. He knew the Father’s will was to go to the cross. He endured that to the point of death. The Father had already declared He was pleased with Jesus. He fulfilled that by seeing that every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
So what about you? Jesus knew what God’s will was for Him. Maybe there is a situation where you lack clarity or confidence. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you know God’s will in that particular circumstance. Then just listen.
Teach Me
So in order for us to endure the will of God, that is to live through it for His glory, first we must know it.
I remember as a child being fascinated by dominoes. If YouTube had existed back then I am sure I would have watched videos of extensive set-ups. I received a set complete with templates to help set up complex sequences. I remember more failures than successes as at times I accidentally knocked over parts of my elaborate design.
I also remember my dad helping me. I recall how he would very carefully wold lift the templates with a precision I simply seemed to lack. We built some wonderful layouts taking what seemed like forever. When we would finish and look at each other with pride and joy. The thrill of my dad smiling at me as he could see me asking with my eyes more than words if I could start the sequence is still a vivid recollection.
Oh, to gently tap that first domino and watch them all begin to fall. The delight was only eclipsed by the reality of how long another would take to set up. But it was so worth it.
My dad carefully and painstakingly taught me how to set those dominoes up. It reminds me how our Father wants to help up endure a similar process as we learn His will. He wants to teach us, but we need to ask, because asking demonstrates our desire to learn.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:4-5 ESV
I know the waiting is not easy, and we are so tempted to just start doing, but it is often pointless until we know what to do. You may assume the endurance needed from the earlier has to do with this waiting, but it actually has to do with the endurance required to do the will of God once it is revealed to you.
Is there something you are waiting on God to show you? Ask Him again to lead you and teach you.
Interruption
Maybe the issue in your sequence is instead that you know the will of God but are not doing it. If you follow the progression of our sequence, failing to do the will of God that has been revealed to you effectively stops the sequence. God is gracious and sometimes ushers the fulfillment of promises into our lives in spite of our failure to do His will, but the Scripture makes clear it is His desire to fulfill His promises, even His promise to do so, when we do His will.
Before you think this is punitive allow me to ask you a question. Are you glad when God keeps His promises? What if He did not keep up His end of the bargain, if He was fickle. Would that not be disappointing? Imagine how disappointed God is when we fail to do the will He has revealed to us. Keep in mind though that much of that flows from His knowing what is best for us and that our failing to do His will actually robs us of His greatest promises.
It may simply be a matter of time. You must simply wait to see the promise fulfilled. That can be hard waiting too and we can begin to doubt if we have done His will His way.
Deep breath. That is some profound processing.
So one last question. Is there anything you are aware of that you have done that may have interrupted the sequence God has put in motion for you? Maybe you are not aware, but need to ask just in case. Maybe you simply need to be patient. That requires some endurance as well. Ask the Spirit to teach you what you need to know.
Jesus, I need You every hour. Teach me Your will, then grant me the endurance I need to do it. Forgive me for all the times I fail to do things Your way and walk down my own paths. Draw me back into the sequence of blessing You with my obedience. In Jesus name. Amen.
Sequential Tuning!
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Video 11.4 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
And here we are again, confessing our need for God. Four weeks in and I have prayed for you that you are starting to develop a rhythm of telling God how much you need Him hour by hour. Let’s start this time by telling Him again, “Lord, I need You.”
The Holy Spirit is our teacher, so when we ask to be taught, we are asking for His influence in particular. There are two aspects here that I see. The first is the general will of God, His ways, and the second specific direction in particular circumstances. Ask Him for both, general and specific.
As we come to know and live His will, we are perfectly positioned to see the richness of His promises unfolding in our daily lives. Do you know His promises? He has offered us so many in His word. Tell Him right now you want to know them all.
Are there promises you are already hoping in today? Remind God that you long to see them fulfilled in your life, and commit to adjusting your living to His will, so you may find yourself in a “blessable” state, one where God’s promises may truly be fulfilled daily.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Image Attributions
Sequence – https://pixabay.com/photos/dominoes-domino-colorful-patterns-4020618/
Teach Me – https://pixabay.com/photos/dominoes-colorful-patterns-4020617/
Interruption – https://pixabay.com/photos/dominoes-domino-barricade-hand-1902622/
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