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.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
By: Joseph M. Scriven, 1819-1886 (1855)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We continue our journey through another great hymn today.  The second half of this stanza concludes with the same phrase, so it is fair to say this is the main thrust of the stanza, “Take it to the Lord in prayer”.  What are we supposed to take to Him? Good question.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Triple T’s

Trials, temptations, and troubles. Talk about a 1-2-3 punch! And each one of them is an example of our faith being tested.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3 ESV

Notice it does not say “if” you meet trials, but “when”.  So that answers the rhetorical questions about trials, temptations and troubles.  Yes, there are everywhere.  Everyone has them.  Practically all the time, on one level or another.  

And so we have set the stage upon which the great drama of our life unfolds.  We all have these various tests of our faith which come to produce steadfastness in us.  Exactly how does that happen though?

I think of lifting weights.  When you lift a barbell up and put it back down, with good form, you are tearing muscle, which as it rebuilds will make you stronger.  The same is true of these “tests,” whatever form they take.  When we lift them up to the Lord, and put them down in His capable hands, we are tearing down worry and replacing it with faith which makes us stronger.

Try it.  What is testing your faith today?  Name the trial, temptation, or trouble.  Now, carefully and with good form lift it to Jesus and put it in His hands.  Tell Him you are going to trust Him with it.  And leave it there.  When it comes to mind again, repeat the whole action.  Keep repeating it until your faith in Jesus is strong enough to overcome it.  But be on alert, because there are other “faith” muscle groups that need a workout, and so more trials, temptation, and troubles are likely already on the way!

Discouraged?  Pray.

We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Well, that is certainly easier said, or sang, than done.

Can you remember the last time you were discouraged?  You were facing some situation, and the courage to stand in it seemed to have disappeared.  You knew what you should do, or at least feel, but you were struggling.

We have all been there.  We have all been discouraged.  The writer is not saying if you have been discouraged, then you suck at matters of faith.  What he is saying is when you find yourself discouraged, there is a better solution than sucking at matters of faith.  Put your faith to work, whatever faith you have, and take that discouraging thing, situation, person, etc. to the Lord in prayer.

So, let’s go back to our weight training illustration.  When you finish with your bicep curls with that barbell, it is time to work on some other area.  Let’s say shoulders.  You position the barbell and begin to work that new muscle group.  On some level, you may feel like you lack the courage to do this.  Your biceps are already throbbing, and now you are going to subject another muscle group to the same testing.  But it is for your good.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6 ESV

You may not feel anxious or even be discouraged about your shoulder workout, but something may have you down today.  What is it?  What is sucking the courage right out of you? I have mine in mind.  Do you?  Give thanks to God that you can identify that test and then acknowledge your need of Him, asking Him for the courage to pray and keep bringing it to Him.

 

Jesus, thank You that in the midst of all my tests of faith I can come to You.  I can identify them for what they are and put my faith to work by lifting them to You.  Help me do that today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Weighty Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 13.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

 

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.

Of course we have trials and temptations, even tribulations which Jesus expressly warned us about.  It is not a matter of “if”, but “when”. What is troubling you today, or these days? Take a moment and ask Jesus to show you what you need to bring to Him today.

Jesus followed His warning about tribulations with a promise. He told us to take heart because He has overcome the world. It is truths like this that allow us to sing to one another to not be discouraged, but instead take it to Jesus.  Now take a moment to bring to Him what He revealed before.

Rhetorical question. Answer: no, we cannot find a friend so faithful.  No other friend but Jesus will share all our sorrows as He does. We may have a few really good friends, and maybe even one great one, but none who can compare to the friendship Jesus offers us.  Thank Him. 

The reason we can say there is no friend like Jesus is because no one, not even ourselves, know our every weakness as He does. In spite of that knowledge, He still invites us to bring all our weaknesses, including the ones we do not even know we have, to Him.  Bring them now!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post What Weight Will You Lift to the Lord Today? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Trouble – Tests – https://pixabay.com/photos/model-man-woman-fresh-dispute-2748342/
Barbell – https://pixabay.com/photos/training-weightlifting-gym-health-2728338/
Discouraged? Pray. – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-desperate-sad-tears-cry-1006100/

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

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
By: Joseph M. Scriven, 1819-1886 (1855)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We begin our journey through another great hymn today.  If we were too boil it all down to a phrase, I suppose we might say “We must regularly take advantage of the opportunity to talk to Jesus about everything because He is our friend”.   But we are instead going to spend four weeks to let these stanzas speak deeply to us their powerful truths.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Self-Assessment

So as we begin this journey I want you to take a few moments to get a sense of how often you take advantage of the access you have to Jesus?  I am not talking about devotions or quiet time, I mean regular conversations with Him.  Have you talked to Him today?  When was the last time?  Do you truly take ALL your sins and griefs to Him?  Do you have the peace He affords, or are you carrying needless pain?

Take a few moments and talk to Jesus right now.  Ask Him to help you grow in this from where you are right now, to a better place  where you take everything to Him.  Seriously, ask Him right now.

Jesus

When you think of Jesus what is the first word that comes to mind?  That is a bit of unfair question because He is so much, but really, what is that first word or first words.  For me, I don’t think it is generally “friend”, but it should absolutely be in the mix if I am to have a complete understanding and experience of Who He really is.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13 ESV

• That is exactly what Jesus did…laid down His life
• That is exactly what Jesus showed..greater love
• That is what it makes Jesus to us…our friend

A friend like no other.  A friend who died to bear all our sins AND griefs.  That also makes Him our Savior, but He is more than that.  Why is that so hard to believe?

Oh, you believe it do you?  Have you been acting like you believe it?  Do you take everything to Him, or are you like me, taking the things that seem worthy of His attention and leaving many other things unmentioned?

This really is a mindset more than anything else, but it must begin in the heart.  We must believe that we can take everything to Him, or we simply never will.

Are there reasons you do not bring everything to God?  What are they?  Are you willing to lay them down so that you may instead grab hold of the better reality of bringing it all?

Everything

But I get it. Everything?  Really?  Yes!

So what are those reasons we do not bring everything to God.  I think they all come down to two.

1. Our concept of Jesus is too small
2. Our concept of ourselves is too big

We start with Jesus.  If our concept of Him is too small, then we will not take everything to Him because we are not convinced He can handle it.  Now before you dismiss this really consider why you do not bring Him everything.  Is it because at some level you think He can not handle it, or does not care, or is unaware of you and your need?  Ask the Holy Spirit to make Jesus bigger to you.

We end with ourselves.  If our concept of self is too big, then we will not take everything to Him because we are convinced we can handle it.  The remedy for this way of thinking is simple, well at least saying the word is…humility.

 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

It still starts with Jesus though.  When we are convinced that Jesus cares for us we are willing to cast all our anxieties on Him.  When we cast all our anxieties on Him, we are humbling ourselves acknowledging we need His help.  When we acknowledge we need His help, we see just how mighty His hand is.  

Jesus is your friend.  Embrace that reality today!  Enjoy the privileges it affords.

Jesus, thank You for being my friend.  I embrace the reality today.  I want to enjoy all the privileges it affords.  Take me deeper in my understanding and experience of that.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Prayerful Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 13.1 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

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

No one else could have borne our sins, or would bear our griefs but Jesus.  He is the friend we could have never deserved, yet is the truest friend we would ever find.  Jesus taught us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for your friends, then he did it. Thank Him!

We all need a friend who will accept us as we are. A friend to whom we can bring everything, not just the better, shinier parts but the worse, dirtier ones as well.  Jesus is such a friend. You may know that, but I failed to practice it. What do you need to bring to Jesus today?

In these two lines we see the positive we fail to lay hold of and the negative we needlessly cling to, peace forfeited and pain borne, all for lack of accessing our friendship with Jesus. What pain do you need to take to Jesus?  What peace do you need to receive? Do it right now. Your friend is waiting.

This horizontal worship reminds us to take everything vertical.  We do not need to keep carrying the things that have long weighed us down, and likely slowed our progress in our faith journey.  Just carry them to Jesus in prayer …and then leave them there. 

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Can I Really Pray About Everything? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Jesus, Friend – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-god-holy-spirit-christian-3469896/
Everything to God in Prayer – https://pixabay.com/photos/prayer-hands-church-light-2544994/

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read.  Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We conclude our journey this week beyond Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Throughout the carol, we have repeated the refrain which offers the invitation to come and worship.  It culminates here with the consummation of the ages and a look into our worship around the throne.  Let’s tune our hearts.

All Creation Praising

Though we are going to end up around the throne, both at the end of the age and later in this post, that is not generally where my thoughts go first when I think of “all creation”.  I love the world that God has put together to display His glory. I enjoy walks through it, marveling at His creativity.  I am often thrilled at the colors of a sunrise or sunset, or a brilliant hillside in autumn.

What is your favorite vista in creation?

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2 ESV

The heavens themselves are an invitation to worship, but are not the object of that worship.  They instead pour forth speech and knowledge of the handiwork of our God.  Allow your last recollection of His glory in creation to inform your praise right now.  Can’t recall it? Consider the image at the top.

What about invisible things?

The creation is not only made up of visible things like the heavens and the earth, but of many invisible things as well.  The invitation to worship issues to them as well, because they, too, were created through him and for him.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 ESV

What about things we just can not see yet?

And there are created things that are yet to come, at least as far as our perspective is concerned.  We can not see them, for we are bound my time and they are eternal. Even these things are called to come and worship Christ.

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  Revelation 5:13 ESV 

Not just the created world, but all the creatures which teem upon it.  What an incredible glimpse into the heavens Revelation 4-5 gives us! These words from John in his heavenly vision tell us all the creatures across all creation will be praising.   They will lift their voices to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!

All these are invited to praise. Can you find yourself in that description?  Have you determined that you will absolutely be among those who will offer praise to God now, and then?  Commit to worship today!  Then never stop!!

God, the Father, Spirit, Son

As we prepare to leave the Christmas season behind, we take a last look at one of the most often quoted prophecies regarding the first coming of Jesus.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 ESV

Here in this oft-quoted Christmas prophecy, we see different representations of our Triune God: Son, Counselor (Spirit), and Everlasting Father.  God is Father, Spirit, Son, and we are invited to come and worship Him. The Father sent His Son, and the Spirit revealed Him to us.  With that revelation came to opportunity to worship Christ the newborn King, who has become the Risen King and our Savior.

One day all creation will worship Him.  The greatest treasure belongs to those who gladly choose to worship Him now.  Will you offer your life in praise to our Triune God?  Will you worship Father, Spirit, and Son? Come and worship!

 

Jesus, thank You for issuing the call to all creation to come and worship.  I have heard that call and have gladly chosen to join with all those who worship You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Worshipful Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 12.6 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

The carol culminates with one great final call to worship issued to all creation.  “Come and worship Christ, the newborn King!” As we turn the page to a New Year will you continue to issue that call even as you respond to it.  Pray to see the Christ clearly in 2020.

And not only the Son, but the Father and Spirit as well.  John 1:12 says “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  The Spirit enables faith in Jesus which makes us the Father’s children. Thank Him for faith in His name.

As one year rounds into another we are mindful of the constant movement of time.  Commit to worship God in the New Year and in every moment He gives you here, until you commence your eternal praise in your new home.

He was the newborn King.  Then the risen King. He will be our returning King. He is ever our eternal King.  Worship Him now. Worship Him then. Worship Him forevermore.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Will You Join the Creation-Encompassing Worship? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
King in the Manger – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/jesus-christ-god-holy-spirit-4671798/
Lamb on the Throne – https://www.blockislandtimes.com/affiliate-post/lamb-upon-throne/30689#&gid=1&pid=1