The Connection Corner

The Hymn of Honest Prayer

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist, Linda Meyers, Stories About Songs

Matthew 11:28 — Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Annie felt an ache deep in her soul that she couldn’t quite put into words. As she went about her day—washing dishes, caring for her children— it was not a sudden crisis that brought this feeling on. It was just life.

You can probably imagine being in her shoes, where her tasks seemed endless yet essential. Still, no matter how much she loved her family, she knew there were limits to what she could do on her own.

As she went about her routine, she stopped mid-step as this thought began to form in her mind: she couldn’t make it through even the simplest tasks without God.

After taking a moment to pray, she began to see the beauty in admitting that. As a gifted hymn writer, Annie Sherwood Hawks knew these words were not just for her. So, she wrote them down into this refrain.

“I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.”

That prayer became the hymn we still sing today, but it began in one woman’s simple dependence on God. It reminds us all that, no matter how strong or capable we may seem, there is a deeper need within us that only God can meet.

Maybe today you find yourself in the same place, feeling a quiet ache that you can’t quite explain. What if you turned that feeling into a prayer. He is always near, ready to meet you right where you are.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What areas of your life feel heavy or exhausting right now?
How might you respond to Jesus’ invitation to “come” and find rest in Him?
When was the last time you admitted your need for God in the middle of ordinary life?
What might “every hour I need Thee” look like in your daily rhythm?

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR LYRICS

VERSE 1

I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

CHORUS

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.

VERSE 2

I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.

VERSE 3

I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

VERSE 4

I need Thee every hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

VERSE 5

I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

October 12, 2025/by Linda Meyers

The Shortcut Called Truth

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist, Stories About Songs

Proverbs 10:9 – Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

I was thirteen, perched on the edge of the couch, eyes glued to the screen. Harrison Ford was on the run, and I was right there with him.

This was the first time I saw The Fugitive. My chest tightened and my palms sweated with every plot twist and chase scene.

But before I could see the ending, my mom came in and shut it down. Bedtime. That night I tossed and turned, consumed by one question: How does it end?

The next morning, school was a blur. Teachers lectured, friends joked, and I sat replaying the movie in my head. By mid-morning, I had a plan.

I decided to fake an asthma attack. I clutched my chest, wheezed, and played it up so well they called my parents. I thought, Yes. Now I can find out how the movie ends.

Only I never made it home. The school also called the hospital.

Minutes later, I was flat on a gurney, fluorescent lights rushing above me, nurses surrounding me, and two adrenaline shots pumping into my body. My “clever plan” had landed me in a very real mess.

Eventually, I broke. Red-faced and ashamed, I told the truth. The punishment was merciless. No more movie. No ending. My little shortcut had cost me the very thing I wanted most.

Looking back, I still laugh at the irony. I thought bending the truth would get me where I wanted to go faster. Instead, it only set me back.

Proverbs 10:9 says it this way: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

The truth? The path of life is found in walking honestly, even when it’s hard. Integrity isn’t the easy way — but it is the sure way. And that is a lot easier to live with than a gurney and two shots of adrenaline.

— Micah Tyler

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What “shortcuts” or compromises have you considered that might cost you integrity?
How does Proverbs 10:9 challenge the way you live your daily life?
What does walking in integrity look like for you in your relationships, work, or personal life?
When have you experienced the peace that comes from choosing truth over convenience?

October 11, 2025/by David Hall

Choosing To Keep Moving

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

The whole thing started with a pair of leggings that let me down.

I stood in front of the mirror tugging, pulling, sighing, until I finally gave up. Nothing fit. Nothing felt right. I wanted to slam the drawer shut and crawl back under the covers.

My body was different now. Having a baby will do that. And while I knew it in my head, facing it in the mirror was something else entirely.

I’m heavier than I was before, and that truth stung more than I wanted to admit. Especially for somebody like me. I’m a coach and fitness instructor. I’ve always taught other people how to keep going. But here I was, feeling defeated by a pile of clothes that didn’t fit.

I was supposed to be getting ready to go to the gym. The plan was to move, sweat, and work on my health, but I got so frustrated that I decided not to go.

Don’t you know, that’s exactly how the enemy works. He will really try to discourage you when you are just trying to do the right thing. The devil would love to see us stay stuck.

But later on, after the sting wore off, I thought to myself, “What do you mean? I should have went to the gym. I will never let myself get discouraged like that again.”

So I made a promise to myself that day. “Next time I’m going. I will wear my husband’s clothes to the gym if I have to. I don’t care.”

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how I look. God has called me to stand up against disappointment and defeat, so I’m going to show up anyway.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

And maybe that’s where you are, too. Maybe it feels like life is stacking up all the little reasons not to keep going. But let me tell you—God’s victories don’t wait for perfect circumstances.

They wait for us to show up.

So show up. Even if it’s messy. Even if the leggings don’t fit.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What “small discouragements” are tempting you to give up right now? How might God be inviting you to keep showing up despite them?
Galatians 6:9 reminds us that perseverance leads to a harvest. What harvest are you praying for in your life?
How could shifting your focus from “perfection” to simply showing up change the way you approach your daily challenges?

October 10, 2025/by Bri Dunn