At Wednesday night’s ACTS Fall Workshop before we sang this season’s theme song, Hear My Cry, O Lord, music leader and GEMS counselor Brenda shared these insightful thoughts with our group:
“You’ll notice that the lyrics to Hear My Cry, O LORD, read, ‘When my heart is overwhelmed,’ not ‘If my heart is overwhelmed.’ Throughout our lives, we will have times when we’re overwhelmed, troubled, and sad.
“When one of my daughters gets overwhelmed, she runs to her room, shuts the door, and wants to be alone. When another one of my daughters gets overwhelmed, she cries. When I get overwhelmed, I worry and stress. As I set up this song to our club’s girls I’m going to ask what they do when they get overwhelmed and sad. Where do they go? Then I’m going to introduce Hear My Cry, O Lord. It’s a song that really is a prayer that when we get overwhelmed, we’re asking God to lead us to the Rock that is higher than I. And that Rock is God Himself.”
The Rock is faithful. He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he (Deuteronomy 32:4).
The Rock is like no other. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God (1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:32)?
The Rock saves. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior (2 Samuel 22:2-3).
The Rock can be trusted forever. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 24:4).
The Rock is worthy of praise! The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation (2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 95:1).
Lead me to the Rock! Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe (Psalm 61:1-3).
Prayer Step: Feeling overwhelmed today? In prayer, shift your focus from your circumstances to your Rock.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling. -Augustus Toplady
