– Lord, Search My Life –

Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”
__________

I wanted to share with you today a very moving hymn written by Stephen F. Olford. He was born in Zambia in 1918; the son of Christian missionaries, Frederick and Bessie Olford. His life and ministry touched countless people from the pulpit to the pew. He was known for his passionate and powerful expository preaching. In an article entitle, “Why I believe in Expository Preaching”, Stephen Olford observed, “St Augustine once wrote: ‘When the Scriptures speak, God speaks’. I believe that with all my heart. That is what makes me an expositor. What I, or any other human, have to say is quite secondary; it is what God says that matters. My task as a preacher, is ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2:15). His friends and colleagues affectionately called him the “Prince of Preachers.” Dr. Billy Graham called him “the man who most influenced my ministry.” He was a personal confidant of Graham. Olford was also a role model and friend to prominent pastors such as Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. In 1953, Dr. Stephen F. Olford’s years of pastoral ministry began by serving the Duke Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Surrey England (1953-1959) and then the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City (1959-1973). He was married for 56 years to the former Heather Brown. He went to be with the Lord on August 29, 2004.
__________

I so much enjoy the old hymns because many of them speak so succinctly concerning a person’s need for Jesus Christ. This hymn entitled “Lord, Search My Life” could be used as a prayer. I trust you will meditate on the words of this great hymn:

Lord, search my life in every part, Reveal the sins
That make me fail, Till with a broken, contrite heart,
I kneel to conquer and prevail.
Lord, hear my prayer, I humbly plead,
And in Thy mercy meet my need.

Lord, cleanse my life from every stain, As I confess
My sins to Thee; Let no unholy thought remain,
For Thy Name’s sake, oh, set me free!
Lord, hear my prayer, I humbly plead,
And in Thy mercy meet my need.

Lord, take my life, whatever the price, Myself, my gifts,
My body, too; And through this “living sacrifice,”
Unite my heart Thy will to do.
Lord, hear my prayer, I humbly plead,
And in Thy mercy meet my need.

Lord, fill my life with heavenly grace, That I may witness
To Thy love; I ask in faith and seek Thy face,
For Thy Free Spirit from above.
Lord, hear my prayer, I humbly plead,
And in Thy mercy meet my need.

Lord, use my life to reach the lost, On friendly shore
Or foreign soil; And may I never count the cost
To win Thy smile for faithful toil.
Lord, hear my prayer, I humbly plead,
And in Thy mercy meet my need.
__________

Closing thoughts:

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a precious verse in the Old Testament and states, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

In order to keep everything right between us and our heavenly Father, we have to seek His face (Psalm 27:8). We may feel guilt, disappointment, anger, or hurt toward God. But that is when we must respond to His invitation to look to Him, especially if fellowship has been broken. My friend and brethren, our greatest concern should be the fear of losing a close relationship with Him. Our greatest delight should be seeing His face in the Word and through the wonderful privilege of prayer. That way we will have the assurance that everything is all right between us. Thus, the more we go to God in prayer with the intent to seek His face, the more we will want to be with Him before His throne of grace.
__________

The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart.