Al, any other day I could sing this hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” but not today. Because today I need God every minute! Every 60 seconds! I’m trying out a new seat cushion and it has me sitting askew and it’s not exactly comfortable. So, if you’ll permit me, let me rewrite the words:
I need Thee, O I need Thee,
Every 60 seconds I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
Well, I hope the hymn writers don't mind me doing that, and you that love that old hymn, forgive me for rewriting the words there, but it's more like where I'm at today. I need Him every minute today. There's nothing like feeling that desperate need for Jesus. And you've had days like that, where you feel like you've got to cling to Him. Every time you turn around you’re smack-dab up against a wall, or a headache, or some terrible disappointment. You’re nagged with some anxious thoughts. You've got to go to Him every 60 seconds! Maybe even less than that – every 10 seconds! You know what I'm talking about.
Like I said, I feel like that today, I think I'm just going to have to carve out time to be alone with Him... leave this microphone and go back to my office... not take telephone calls... and just be alone with Him. It's the best thing to do when your need of Jesus is so great, when you're desperate for that hour, those minutes with Him because wonderful things happen when you're alone with the Lord.
Look at the Biblical record. Moses was alone with God when the Lord revealed Himself through the burning bush. Paul was alone in the Arabian Desert when the Lord gave him personal instructions about preaching the word. And who can forget John alone on the island of Patmos – he received wonderful revelation there. Mary was alone when the angel brought her the message that she would give birth to the Savior. Isaiah was alone with God when he received his commissioning; Elisha was by himself with the Lord when the mantel fell on his shoulders.
We could talk about Joshua... Jacob... Daniel... they all received a special word from God when they were alone with Him. If we need a word from the Lord, if we need direction, help, and hope, then being alone with Him is necessary if we expect God to speak to us. Direction and guidance and real fellowship comes only in those times of solitude... an hour when we say to the Lord, "I need Thee"... not just every hour, but every few seconds or so.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
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