By Fredi Trammell
Putting on the whole armor of God!
To be like Jesus, To be like Jesus,
On earth I long to be like him,
All through life’s journey,
From earth to glory,
I only ask to be like him!
(unknown)
To be like the Lord is to take on His attributes. The whole armor of God embodies His divine nature. The prayer closet is the spiritual warrior’s dressing room. Of all the various parts making up the armor of God, there is none provided for the back, showing us that the Christian warrior should never run from his enemies, but he should fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life.
Physical clothing for the body is kept in an individual’s closet. With this in mind, would it not be sensible to think of the spiritual armor being found in the prayer closet? If this be so, closet praying is NOT an option; it is a must for the spiritual man to win daily spiritual battles.
“…Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…” (Ephesians 6:12, 13).
The Lord desires us, his children, to become like him, bearing His nature, His attributes and His purpose to the streets of our cities, to the rural communities, and ultimately, to the uttermost parts of the world. To be like Jesus, we must march into our world each day and “endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3,4). A child of God is destined to bear the attributes and the purpose of God into a world saturated with ungodliness.
The only sure way to become like Jesus is by lingering long in His presence. When His presence means so much to us that we spend prayerful hours and days with Him, then His attributes will fuse with our innermost being, developing us into his image. It is altogether possible for the Spirit of Jesus to emanate from the believer so that as he goes his way, the Holy Spirit is actually portrayed to the world. Although Jesus is not in the world in His fleshly body, He is in the believer to show Himself real to the world until He returns.
He said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (promise of the Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you (Jesus was speaking of himself with his disciples in bodily form) AND SHALL BE IN YOU, (the promise of HIS SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit) I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you (the promise of the Holy Spirit). Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; (he would ascend into the heavens), but ye see me; (those with his indwelling Spirit sees through the eyes of the spirit by faith) and because I live, ye shall live also (eternal life). At that day ye shall know that I am in the Father and ye in me and I in you (revelation of the one, true God given by the Holy Spirit)” (John 14:16-20; author’s words in parenthesis).
Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
He said, “…Go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be full” (Luke 14:23).
He was not implying we should go out in the streets and drag people to His house against their will. He desired for His witnesses to be so inundated with His attributes of peace, truth, faith, salvation, the word, and righteousness that unbelievers would be drawn to God simply by the spirit flowing from believers. The conversation and the actions of believers will provoke the ungodly to ask questions concerning the source of their power to live undefiled by the world. The faithful believer will ask wisdom from God and he will use every conceivable means to win the lost to the Lord.
It is thought people who spend much time together become alike in their thoughts, actions and even in their physical appearance. Perhaps this is correct, at least to a point. In the same way Christians become like the Lord by spending time with Him. The place to meet the Master is in your closet of prayer.
In the beginning, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26, 27). From the very beginning of time God has desired His creation, both man and woman, to be like Him.
Putting on the whole armor of God is our assurance that God will fight our battles for us. We are no match for Satan without the Lord. No wonder the writer said: “…take unto you the whole armor of God…and having done ALL (having put on the whole armor), to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, (loins denote strength…truth is our strength) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (the breastplate covers the heart area…righteousness must begin within the inner man) and having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (we must ‘follow peace with all men and holiness’…promote ‘peace on earth and good will toward men’), Above all, taking the shield of faith, (the shield is mobile, no matter the direction the enemy fires his deadly ammunition, we can move in faith and prevent our spiritual man from succumbing to his fire) wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, (salvation comes from the word salvage. The helmet covers our minds to salvage it from ‘every wind of damnable doctrine’. With the helmet intact, the lies of Satan will bounce off our minds when he uses his only weapon, deceit, against us) and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God (Jesus used the Word of God on the devil when he was tempted of the devil after his forty day fast in the wilderness and Satan fled from the WORD!): Praying always with all prayer…(praise and worship, repentance, petition, intercessions, thanksgiving, meditation, praying the Word and singing!) watch (stay alert) with all perseverance (NEVER GIVE UP! )…” (Ephesians 12:14-18; author’s words in parenthesis).
The prayer closet is vital to the believer. There, we put on the SPIRITUAL ARMOR…it is not OUR armor, it is God’s armor. The armor of GOD will not ‘fit’ our spiritual being if we are not attuned to the Spirit of God! The ONLY WAY to fit the armor properly into our daily lives is through a relationship with God. This necessitates prayer. When we take on HIS IMAGE, through putting on HIS ARMOR, we are ready for battle with the devil!
Apostle Paul strongly admonished the church at Rome to guard against conforming to the lifestyles of the world. He appealed to the saints to be TRANSFORMED in body and mind. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).
The believer lives by a different set of laws than does the unbeliever. The Christian will never win his battles through physical, carnal means. He wins by obedience to God’s eternal laws, written in His Holy Book. No wonder Apostle Paul commanded young Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The Belt of Truth
Bind TRUTH about your loins. The belt holds the other pieces of the armor in their proper position. Truth holds the breastplate of righteousness in place. Truth secures the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Truth fastens the shield of faith to the armor so it doesn’t fall to the ground.
To gird up one’s loins implies that strenuous action is going to take place. It is similar to a weight lifter preparing to hoist a heavy weight. I have wondered why Apostle Paul listed the girdle of truth first in his list of the armor. Perhaps it is because without TRUTH, the other pieces of the armor will be useless.
The loins represent strength. If our spiritual strength is based on anything but truth, we will eventually fall. The scriptures teach we must build upon a solid foundation or we will fall when the storms of life come, or when persecution arises. Everything we do for the Kingdom of God must be on the sure foundation of truth or it will ultimately fail.
A Roman soldier, in preparing for battle, removed any cumbersome clothing, but left on a loose-fitting woolen tunic which was fastened at the waist to allow freedom of movement. Over this they would place their breastplates or coats of mail and bind them on with a belt-like girdle that would keep them in place, help take weight off the shoulders, and offer protection to the lower abdomen. In the front, hanging from the belt, was an apron of leather strips decorated with medallions and bits of metal which offered added protection, and, some say, a psychological advantage too. As troops marched into battle, the clinking of the medallions and the flashes of reflective light from their movement intimidated their opponents.
TRUTH is our strength. If a soldier of Jesus Christ deviates from the truth of the Word of God, he has weakened his defense against his enemy. One deviation from the Word of Truth will retard our progress toward our goal. There is a strong tie between obedience to every Word of God and living a victorious Christian life. Did not the Apostle James say, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 4:10)? Jesus is TRUTH. He proclaimed, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible admonishes us to search for truth. “Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain…” (Deuteronomy 13:14).
“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass; Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God, He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:3, 4).
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth…” (Joshua 24:14).
“The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in truth” (Exodus 34:6).
“Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).
Taking upon us God’s attribute of TRUTH will hold us steady in times of all persecution and hard trials in life.
Breastplate of Righteousness
“Having on the breastplate of righteousness…”
The English Bible translates a number of different words as breastplate. In I Thessalonians 5:8, breastplate refers to a coat of mail made up of front and back pieces. Apostle Paul uses it to symbolize faith and love joined together to become a garment of protection. Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, refers to Isaiah 59:16, 17, “And he saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak.”
The word Apostle Paul used was thorax—for chest armor made up of two sculpted brass plates hammered to fit its owners with anatomical perfection. It was worn as a symbol of rank by centurions and other leaders in the Roman legion. Apostle Paul’s use of the word thorax (chest) tells us the breastplate of righteousness covers the heart area. Keep in mind, each piece of the armor is a part of God. It is HIS righteousness covering our heart. His righteousness (meaning holiness, sanctity, purity) originates inside us. Anyone has the ability to “look” pious or holy on the outside. But, the piece of the armor that protects the heart—that keeps spiritual life pumping through us—is the righteousness of God.
Romans 13:12-14, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” The scriptures teach there is no righteousness in the flesh. “Our righteousness is as filthy rags in his sight” (Isaiah 64:6).
The ONLY method to produce righteousness in our lives is to diligently reach into our personal closet of prayer and to PUT ON HIS BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! The breastplate covers the heart, the lungs, and the liver. These are vital organs of the body. The righteousness of Jesus penetrates the heart (the organ that pumps life’s blood through us), the lungs (HIS BREATH as he breaths his Holy Spirit upon the world—through us), the liver (absorber and disposal for any contamination delivered from the devil.)
Gospel of Peace
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…”
Roman soldiers wore hobbled sandals (caliga) on their feet. These sandals could not be slipped on and off like today’s sandals—they were made from one piece of leather, stitched up the back and laced up the front. Before battle, or reporting for duty, the soldier had a ritual of preparation, from lacing on his sandals to anointing his shield.
On the bottom of the sandals was stitched a one-half inch thick sole made up of many layers of leather and studded with iron hob nails. The hob-nails provided firm traction in the muck and mire of the battlefield, and the thick leather sole offered protection against sharp spikes (caltrap) that were sprinkled on the ground by the enemy.
Though an army should encamp against us, our hearts shall not fear: though war should rise against us, we will not be troubled. For in the world we will have tribulation; but we can be of good cheer for Jesus has overcome the world. He will keep us from the snares which the enemy has laid for us as we walk with our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Even though the wicked have prepared a pit to take us, and have hidden snares (underground mines) in our pathway, we will not depart from God’s precepts. Peace will be our password.
He has brought us up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set our feet upon a rock, and established our goings. When the wicked, even our enemies, come upon us, they will stumble and fall. The way of the wicked is darkness: they will become confused and stumble in their darkness. In this we can be confident; we will call upon God, and the Lord shall save us. He will speak the word: “PEACE,” and all shall become calm in our soul.
As the Psalmist David did, so will we do: “Evening and morning and noon we will pray and cry aloud and He shall hear our voice. He has delivered our souls in PEACE from them that were against us. For more there we with us than with them” (Psalm 55:17, 18).
JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. Isaiah 9:6, 7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” We can walk with peace governing our lives, because we have been to our prayer closets and prepared ourselves for the gospel (good news) of peace. Our feet will walk in peace all the day long, because we have chosen to bind tightly upon them the spiritual sandals of the good news of peace, with cleats of love on the soles! Because of the proficiency of peace, we can safely tread on the toughest enemy that may arise in our pathway to challenge us.
“Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us” (Psalm 44:5). Note, “through thy name will we tread them under.” His name shall be called the Prince of Peace!
God’s ways are as high above our ways as the heavens are above the earth. We do not have to strain and fight in our minds (or physically) to win over the devil. It is as simple as going into our prayer closet and putting on the gospel of PEACE. Remember, the battle is NOT our battle—the Lord said the battle belongs to Him. When we lose a battle with the devil, it is because we take it upon ourselves to fight. Our God has never lost a battle and He never will lose a battle. The only way to become equipped is to put on His armor, his peace, his salvation, his faith, his sword (word), his truth and his righteousness!
Jesus said to his followers, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 10:19). If we alienate ourselves from Jesus by neglecting our closet of communion with Him, He cannot give us power to overcome the power of the enemy.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
“…as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:18-21).
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
Shield of Faith
When Paul speaks of the shield of faith he uses the Greek word thureon derived from the root thyra, or door, which most likely refers to the size and shape of the shield carried by Roman legionnaires—it was approximately four feet long by two-and-one-half feet wide by three inches thick. Built upon either an iron frame or a laminated wood base, the shield was covered with layers of leather. The leather covering was soaked in water prior to battle to make it flame resistant and to make it slippery to help deflect blows. The shield was curved to help deflect stones, pikes and other missiles. In the center of the shield was a convex iron plate—a boss—that protected the shield’s hand hold.
The Roman infantry was famous for its tortoise formation, in which these massive shields were overlapped to make an impenetrable covering that protected its troops from flying missiles. It was claimed to be strong enough to withstand being driven over by a cart.
The shield is mobile. This means the person holding the shield can immediately move his shield in any direction, wherever he detects the enemy. The Bible teaches that the devil is wily (tricky); he will detect a weak place in our Christian character and target that weakness with his only weapon, deceit. He uses his weapon of deceit on the mind. He is “the father of lies” forging his way, if possible, into the mind of the believer. He will tell the believer that he is only imagining God is with him. He will attempt to deceive the mind in any way possible if he finds a place to enter. He can develop an accusation or an imagination in the mind and then cause certain actions or a set of circumstances to happen that will further accentuate and magnify what the mind is already imagining! This is one of the devil’s favorite tricks on the believer. For this reason the shield of Faith should never be put aside.
The best way to keep a fresh supply of faith is to be faithful to Him—to be faithful to the House of God—and to be faithful in HEARING the preacher when he preaches the Word of God.
“…Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Psalmist David said, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 5:11).
When the enemy springs at us from any direction, we have the ability to speak His Word in faith for any situation and resist him until he flees from us. WHEN FEAR KNOCKS AT THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART, SEND FAITH TO ANSWER!
Helmet of Salvation
Forged from a single piece of metal, the Roman helmet featured a unique shape that protected its wearer from blows to the back of the neck and the upper shoulders as well as to the top of the head. Cheek pieces were added to protect the face, and iron cross-braces were riveted onto the top to further strengthen the helmet.
We MUST gird up the loins of our minds when we go to church. I try to spend some time with the Lord before each church service. I ask Him to open my spiritual eyes to see what He has for me in that service. I ask Him to open my spiritual ears to hear His Word. Then I ask Him to open my heart to believe. We MUST try to dispose of all negative thinking during the preaching of the Word of God and focus our mind to one thing—hearing the Word of God. This is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord!
For comfort, the interior of the helmet was padded and a clever system of straps was threaded through rings on the neck guard, crossed at the throat, threaded through more rings inside the cheek pieces, and tied off under the chin. These straps made it impossible for the helmet to come off during battle.
I consulted my husband about the helmet, since he is a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He told me the helmet worn in training is a facsimile of the helmet used on the battlefield. When the soldier actually goes to the battlefield, he is provided with a solid steel helmet. The helmet of solid steel will cause shrapnel, grenades, and enemy fire to bounce off.
Once a piece of ammunition enters the brain of the soldier, he usually dies. The brain is the headquarters of the body’s nervous system which sends all messages through the complex mechanism of the human body. It is in the brain that thoughts are first planted. Electrical currents send out commands to the body to act upon the thoughts planted in the brain. The brain ultimately transforms the thoughts into deeds.
We are in actual spiritual warfare with our spiritual enemy, the devil. We have no time for playing war games with the devil. It can be treacherous and life threatening to take down our guard against evil strategies of the enemy designed to destroy our faith in God. We cannot depend on a fake helmet.
To guard against any shrapnel from the enemy (his lies, uncleanness, deceit, and evil imaginations), the helmet of salvation must be securely fastened in place over our minds. None of his wily, tricky maneuvers should enter into the central system of our spiritual house, the mind.
The word salvation actually means the salvaging or securing of something for safe keeping. God, by His great grace and wondrous mercy, is the SALVATION (the security, the salvaging) of our souls from an eternity without Him. God and His laws must be the utmost thought of our minds.
The helmet of SALVATION is placed over the mind to keep it, to secure, to salvage it against the onslaught of Satan. Someone has said, “The mind is the devil’s workshop.” When I was a teenager, my pastor, Rev. T. E. Gale, many times used the old saying: “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head; but you CAN keep them from building a nest in your hair!” We cannot keep the enemy from firing his deadly weapons at our minds; but we CAN MAKE SURE we have the helmet of SALVATION in its proper place, securely fastened with the straps (the Word of God) close to our lips!
Apostle Peter said, “Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:13-16).
Binding on, or fastening, the helmet securely in place with His Word is, in the spiritual sense, making sure our minds hold steady in shaky, insecure, turbulent times of assaults from the devil. These unwelcome invasions come at the most surprising times. The helmet of salvation will hold us steady in times of severe persecution against the mind. When doubts try to stifle our faith and the deadly shrapnel of unbelief bombards our minds, the helmet of salvation will prove to be a deflector. When filthiness and unholy thoughts try to find a place of lodging in the mind, the helmet of salvation will dislodge them quickly.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee, for the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3).
I suppose we can say the helmet of salvation is made of the materials of: truth, honesty, justness, purity, love, good reports, virtue and praise! Focus on these things for peace of mind. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8, 9).
The Sword of the Spirit
In Paul’s inventory of equipment for the Christian soldier only one offensive weapon is listed: the sword. The sword he refers to is the gladius–the Roman legionnaire’s sword—with which most of the Roman Empire was won. With a short tongue-like blade, the sword was designed more for thrusting than swinging. Soldiers got close to their enemies under the protection of their shields, then used their swords to deadly effect. The blade of the sword was made of iron from Spain and known for its balance. When not in use, it was kept in a decorated wooden sheath to prevent rusting.
Interestingly, Paul reminds the reader that the sword he refers to is the Spirit’s. It will be wielded by His strength and skill in the hand of one who knows the Word. Without the Word alive and powerful in our hearts, we are never a match for the enemy of our souls. It is the one piece of the armor that will bring us victory over the devil. All the other pieces of the armor: peace, righteousness, salvation, faith and truth are vital in their place, but the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God will give the devil his final blow.
“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and that life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not” (John 1:1-5)
The WORD is everlasting, it is creative, it is alive, and it is illuminating and cannot be mixed with darkness.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The sword of the spirit is quick (piercing), all powerful, sharp, precise and perceptive.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (Isaiah 64:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10).
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
The Word links time and eternity! The Word outlasts time!
“And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword…” (Isaiah 49:2).
No wonder the Psalmist said to the Lord, “Thy Word HAVE I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11).
The Word of God is our sword of the Holy Spirit to ultimately win our battle with the devil. The Word must be an absolute, vital part of the armor of God worn at all times.
Jesus is our greatest example in all things. After He had fasted forty days, He was taken into the wilderness and tempted of the devil. We have our wilderness experiences where we, too, are tempted of the devil. Three times the devil attempted to sway Jesus from His eternal purpose. Each time, Jesus answered Satan with THE WORD. After the third blow with the Sword of the Spirit, the devil left Jesus and angels ministered to Him.
“Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
Speaking of the Revelation Gifts, Rev. T. W. Barnes stated, “God gives a revelation gift of discernment of physical needs to some. He gives the revelation gift of spiritual needs to the pastor. He gives the revelation gift of the needs of the organized church body to the head of the organization. But, the highest revelation gift of all is when God reveals to you the need for you to steal away somewhere alone with Him and talk with Him about a certain thing!” Beyond the closet door, miracles are initiated. Beyond the closet door, great feats are accomplished that only eternity will reveal!
Only believe! Only believe!
All things are possible,
Only believe!
Only believe! Only believe!
All things are possible,
Only believe!
I Am Thine, O Lord
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice
And it told Thy love to me,
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now, to Thy service Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before thy throne, I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend.
There are depths of love, that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea.
There heights of joy that I may not reach,
Till I rest in peace with Thee!
(Fanny J. Crosby)
I Just Steal Away and Pray
Every time I do a deed I shouldn’t do,
Every time I say a word I shouldn’t say,
Let me tell you what I do.
And it brings a blessing and pray!
I just steal away and pray!
I just steal away and pray,
And I ask my blessed Lord to lead the way.
I just steal away and pray!
I just steal away and pray,
I just steal away somewhere and pray!
(Albert E. Brumley)
This article “Transformed Into His Image” by Fredi Trammell was excerpted from: Beyond the Closet Door. April 2011. It may be used for study & research purposes only.
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