LESSON ONE – TELL HIM

Phil. 4:6-7 — In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

OUR LORD CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH EVERYONE

The Bible records many instances in which the Lord spoke to men. But it does not record many instances in which men came to the Lord to tell Him something. Our Lord is a Lord in whom men can confide. Men can easily tell the Lord what they want to say. Any words can be told to Him. From Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:30-32, we can see the Lord’s sympathy for us. Many times we encounter sufferings. Many times we have joy. Many times we need someone to share our sorrow or joy, but we are unable to find someone.

HE CARES FOR US

Many times we think that the Lord is great. Even though our Lord is great, He does not neglect the small things. We may think that what we tell Him must also be something great, or else He will not listen. Little do we realize that our Lord never neglects the small things. There is nothing that is too small for the Lord to listen to. He is willing to listen to everything. He is willing to listen to everything concerning us. He was willing to listen to His own disciples, and He was willing to listen to John’s disciples. The disciples of John had followed their teacher for a long time. One can imagine the affection there was between them and John. When their teacher was killed, how could they not be brokenhearted? The Bible does not say that they complained about Herod, nor does it say that they cried all day long. They only buried John’s body and then came to tell Jesus.

HE IS WILLING TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING

We should realize that when we have a thorough talk with the Lord and pour out our heart to Him, our intimacy with the Lord is one step further, and we know Him a little more. Intimate contact with Him  at these times is hundreds of times better than our ordinary fellowship with Him. By these contacts we advance in life. We should bring our problems to the Lord and tell Him about them. He can comfort us and help us. If a person has never shed tears before the Lord, if he has never shared his joy or sorrow with the Lord, and if he has never talked with the Lord about his private matters, he has never had any intimate fellowship with the Lord; he has never had any deep acquaintance with Him. We are not saying that you cannot ask others to pray for you or ask others to help you. We are saying that one can only be drawn closer to the Lord through telling Him everything.

Once John’s disciples told the Lord of their sorrows, every problem dissolved. No matter what we tell Him, He will listen. No man can sympathize with everyone. But our Lord can sympathize with everyone. He is sympathetic to every one of our problems. He cares for the affairs of us all. In His heart, there seems to be no one else’s affairs but ours. He bears all our sorrows. No matter how weak we are, He will sympathize with us and bear our sorrow for us.

HIS PRESENCE RENEWS OUR STRENGTH

What did the Lord do after He heard His disciples? He said, “Come by yourselves privately to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). The Lord did this in order to give them some rest. Many times we go privately to a deserted place to rest because we are unhappy and depressed. With no other recourse to take, we go to a deserted place all alone to rest. But such occasions frequently make us more distraught than before we went away. Our Lord did not merely tell the disciples to go to the deserted place to rest; He told them to go with Him. The Lord’s presence gave them sweet rest and renewed their strength. (CWWN, vol.18, “Tell Him,” pp. 327-331)

References: CWWN, vol. 18, “Tell Him”; Lessons on Prayer

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Prayer—Telling the Lord – 789

• What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
  What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
  O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
  All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

• Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
  We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
  Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
  Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

• Are we weak and heavy-laden,
  Cumbered with a load of care?
  Precious Savior, still our refuge—
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
  Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
  In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
  Thou wilt find a solace there.