Resonant 7

You are here: Home / Archives for smattern

by 1 Comment

Wading into a River of Holiness

Wednesday Wanderings is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey and examine one word: transcendent.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering, we considered the R.E.A.L. friendship. This week we will consider the transcendent quality of God’s holiness.  When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

River – City

PROMISE: Psalm 46:4  (ESV)

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

The city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.  This is the setting of our hymn this week.  And I would like you to imagine the river whose streams make glad that is city flow as the holiness of God pours forth from His eternal throne.  Think about how powerful a river is, and how it can wash away whatever stands in its path.  These qualities are true of God’s holiness and we are going to allow our imagining of a river of holiness to lift our understanding of this transcendent quality of God.   

PSALM: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty originally was written by Reginald Heber in 1826.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

A river is powerful.  But a river in the city of the Lord God Almighty…how powerful might that me.  Especially a river that makes the city glad.  Let’s wander along that river.

PARABLE:  

So the image above depicts a river flowing through a city.  Often cities are built around bodies of water.  They were used for transport and commerce as well as a source of water which is crucial to life.  It is no surprise then that a river would be the source of gladness in the city of God.

But let us imagine in the city of God that this river is not an ordinary river.  The wording of this Scripture can be taken a couple ways.

  1. That the city of God is the holy habitation
  2. That the river is the holy habitation

I think both may be true.

Certainly the former is, but what if the second is as well.  What if this river flowing through the city is in and of itself a holy habitation of the Most High?  What if God dwells in the river and spreads something of Himself as far as its streams flow?  What if everywhere those streams go there is a gladness that flows forth from God that can be replicated in nothing else?  What if His holiness is conveyed in those waters?

Imagine walking beside such a powerful river.  Imagine how refreshing it would be to quench the thirst of your soul with its waters.  Imagine how restoring it would be to immerse yourself fully in its cleaning flow.

Are you getting the picture?  What is keeping your from wading into this river?  The current may seem overwhelming, but it is safe.  Take a few moments and put your toes in.  Then your ankles.  Go as far as you are comfortable.  Thank God for the access He has provided through His Son, and go deep if you are willing.  Let is sweep you along as you soak in the gladness of the Lord God Almighty.

PONDER and WANDER:  

If you choose, Ponder the questions: What is keeping me from stepping into the river?  How might I go a little deeper today?

Soul care training exercise: 

Imagine you are on the banks of this cleansing river.  Jesus has brought you to it and made it accessible to you.  All you have to do is step in.  Maybe your river looks a little different that the one above.  Maybe it looks more like the one below.  Close your eyes and imagine Jesus inviting you to step into that river with Him.  Take some time to consider this exercise.

  • River

    Take time to still your soul and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

  • Ask Him to let you see what might be keeping you dry.
    • Is it the expectations of others?
    • Is it your own complacency?
    • Is it a lack of faith in its power?
    • Is it something else.
  • Look at the river. Do you realize you have access to it?  There is nothing stopping you.  The Lamb of God has paid the price and you can enter.  Will you step into it today?
  • How will you take that next step into the river today and find cleansing?

PRAYER:  Jesus, thank You for leading me to this powerful cleansing river that is the holiness of God.  I could never have found it without Your help, and could never have accessed it without Your sacrifice.  Empower me to step into it early every day, and then abide in it.  I can not do this on my own.  Thank You in advance for helping me. Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your soul of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for the river of His holiness. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Wading into a River of Holiness appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
River City – https://pixabay.com/photos/budapest-bridge-water-chain-bridge-525857/
River – https://pixabay.com/photos/autumn-landscape-nature-golden-219972/

by 1 Comment

The Advantages of Offering Praise Often and Early

Revelation

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy
By: Reginald Heber 1783–1826

Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast 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 this week.  In the first half of this stanza, we remind ourselves of Who God is and commit to come early and often to give Him praise . Let’s tune our hearts.

Holy God

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Holiness.

This entire hymn, one of the most well-known of all time, focuses almost exclusively on this transcendent quality of God with each stanza turning the prism as it were to reflect a little different perspective on this other-worldly character.

Holiness is one of the most difficult attributes of God for us to comprehend.  Why?  Because it is so different from us.

This is very clear in Isaiah 6 where the prophet describes the throne room of God, and then goes on to offer his response.  “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”  Isaiah 6:5  When confronted with the holiness of God, Isaiah realized he was lost or undone.

Holiness indicates that something is whole, or integrated.  God is holy, or wholly integrated.  There is nothing incomplete or fragmented in Him.

Not so with us.  We are undone, or disintegrated.  Isaiah says lost here, but it is also translated undone.  He was in pieces, acknowledging that the completeness of God had revealed to him how fragmented his life was.

When we are confronted with the holiness of God, we will respond the same way.  If we want to develop our sense of His holiness we must join the song of the four living creatures who never cease to declare it.  The Scriptures tell us they are full of eyes, which tells me they fully see the perfection of our Lord.  We must take time to reflect on this aspect of His character because like them, it draws us to Him, consumed with a desire to be integrated as He is.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8 ESV

How will you respond to their eternal song?  Day and night they never cease to say…”Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty…”  Will you join them?  With you lips and with your life will you sing and live to make known the holiness of God?  Why not start now?

Early Praise

Worthy of Praise, Eternal and Early

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

The best way to fill your day with praise is to start your day with it.

When you set the tone for the day by allowing the holiness of God to inform your perspective, the likelihood of you keeping that focus is greatly increased.  Seems pretty simple right?  Then why don’t we do it?!?

There is certainly not one simple answer, but I think a key factor is intentionality.  What the four living creatures have over us, besides being covering with eyes, is that they are eternally in the very throne room of God, continually confronted with the awesome reality of who He is.  Because of this obvious disadvantage on our part, we must make a choice to set on minds and hearts on things above early in the day.

How do we do that?  By saying, “I will.”  Consider the Psalmist.  They were not in the throne room either, but had the wilderness tabernacle and Solomon’s temple to inspire them.  Like them, we need to draw some inspiration from the attributes of God, and commit to respond.

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.” Psalm 59:16a ESV

Whether it is His strength, His steadfast love, or any other of His many praise-worthy attributes, think on one or more and determine to give Him praise!  And do so early in your day.  It will help you set the tone for a life of resonant praise.

Did you start your day with praise?  Whether it was a song you listened to or simply sang from your heart, did it help to center you in the reality of God?  If you did not, then start right now.  If you did not watch the podcast above already scroll back up and do it now.  It will give you the opportunity to sing these lyrics as an offering to God, and set the tone for the rest of your day.  Then tomorrow, start early!

Jesus, thank You for revealing the holiness of God to me.  As I wake up each morning, stir my heart to offer You the praise which You alone are worthy to receive.  If I forget, remind me early and often, and help me make it a habit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Early 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 14.1 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.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

The four living creatures from Revelation 4:8 never cease to declare this.  The next phrase of their eternal refrain says, “who was and is and is to come.”  A timeless God deserves timeless praise. Ask Him to pull back the heavenly veil and reveal His powerful presence to you today.

Our response to God revealing Himself to us is to commit to fill our days with an earthly echo of the throneroom worship.  Will you commit to start your day with a song of praise to your God? Not sure what to sing? Just sing this.

Our completely holy God blends mercy and might together perfectly.  Isaiah grasped His wholeness or integration and confessed his own disintegration in light of it.  Our right response must likewise mingle friendship and fear. Praise Him for access and awe!

We worship the three-in-one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Though the word Trinity is found nowhere in Scripture, the reality of these three distinct persons who are each God and all God is consistently proclaimed.  Thank Him for revealing Himself to You.

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 The Advantages of Offering Praise Often and Early appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Revelation – https://pixabay.com/photos/revelation-bible-religion-god-holy-981662/
Early Praise – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-happiness-sunrise-silhouette-570883/

by Leave a Comment

Prayer Will Eventually Be Unnecessary

Glory Bright, Unclouded

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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 podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library? Click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

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

We conclude our journey through another great hymn today. In the second half of this stanza, we acknowledge the fact that prayer is only necessary now because we are not living in His glorious, unclouded presence.  What exactly do we have to look forward to? Let’s think about this.

Glory Bright, Unclouded

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—

There really is no image that can capture the incredible reality of the eternal home that God has in store us.  It will be His glory that is the brightness of that place.  Unlike in this age, it will be unclouded, clearly in our view forever.

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

That last line, “in which righteousness dwells” is what creates the reality where prayer is no longer needed.  Think about it.  Much of what we pray for has to do with pain, lack, stress, gloom, etc. and many of those things are the result of “wrongness” or sin, both ours and others.

When righteousness dwells in the new heaven and new earth, a different order of things will take place.  Revelations 21:4 says God will wipe away our tears and there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain for the old order of things will have passed away.

WOW!  The old order of things gone… wrongness. The new order of things here…rightness.  No more need for prayer.

That gives us even more impetus to pray because we know we will not always have to. Until then, we better pray, even if you want to make one of your prayers, “Come Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

What wrongness are you dealing with today?  Some injustice?  Some ingratitude? A friend who turned against you?  An enemy who is putting it to you? Whatever it is, take it to Jesus, but add at the end, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus” as you long for the day when you will not have to pray anymore because He will make all the wrong things right.

Our Inheritance

Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Rapture, Praise, and Endless Worship

And that righteousness will have some profound effects!  Not only will there be things we no longer need to do (like prayer), there will be other things we will do as never before like praise and worship, and simply delighting in our God.

When Christians use the word rapture, we are often referring to the millennial teaching of the transporting of believers to heaven at the Second coming of Christ.  In this hymn, it is actually referring to the more common and broader definition of a feeling of intense pleasure or joy.  The other interesting word here is portion.  This refers to our future destiny because of what Christ has accomplished.  When His righteousness dwells fully in the new heaven and new earth, our activities will be characterized by intense pleasure and joy, praise, and endless worship. We will know the fulfillment of all the Scriptures including this one.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 ESV

A life of constant prayer will be replaced with a life of ceaseless worship.  That is an incredible promise and portion.  Are you ready for that?  Get ready a little more today.

If you did not already listen to the podcast, I want to urge you to do so.  Every week, we create a few minutes in them for you to encounter Jesus and the joy of His presence.  Either way, take a few minutes now, whether through that experience or one of your own, to just enjoy a bit of His goodness to you.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Be resonant.

Jesus, thank You for promising an end to the needfulness of prayer.  We will have an access to You in those days that we can not fathom, coupled with opportunity to simply enjoy Your presence.  Help me long for those days today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Expectant Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 13.4 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 ESV

What a Blessed Savior indeed! When we trust Him, we can rest in our standing in Him, even as we rest in Him to bear our burdens!  Certainly difficulties come, but we cast those burdens to Him and allow Him to sustain us through them. Thank Him for His promises.

May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:18a ESV

And here is the goal, ever be bringing all to God in prayer.  This is truly a way of life, not simply something we do. It is something we are.  We are invited to be a people who bring all things, at all times, to our Lord. Ask the Spirit to help you aspire to that way of living.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

We must pray until we will not need to pray anymore.  And that day is coming. When we dwell in righteousness in the promise of what He has in store for us, there will be no more need for prayer.  Pray for that day to come quickly.

Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 ESV

And since we will no longer need to pray, we can simply enjoy the eternal pleasures He has in store for us.  An eternity of giving Him glory in all things, where our life of prayer will be replaced with a life of ceaseless worship.  Praise Him now for that sweet portion. 

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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 Prayer Will Eventually Be Unnecessary appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Glory Bright, Unclouded – https://pixabay.com/photos/halo-sun-dog-sun-sky-circle-525213/
Rapture, Praise and Endless Worship – https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-sun-gold-dusk-dawn-sky-473345

by Leave a Comment

What Does Earnest Prayer Look Like?

Promises

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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 conclude our journey through this great hymn this week.  In the first half of this stanza, we remind ourselves of His promise and ask for the earnestness to bring everything to Him in prayer. Let’s tune our hearts.

What a Promise!

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

We have recounted many promises of God through this hymn that speak of His willingness and ability to bear every burden.  I want to take a slightly different look at it today.  Lord, open our eyes.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 ESV

We tend to think of physical burdens, as well as spiritual, mental, and emotional ones.  The context of this Scripture is relational.  The writer is crying out to God throughout this entire Psalm because of the relational assault he is undergoing.

Does that bring anything to mind for you?  Is there a relationship that is creating stress and strain in your life right now?  If not, recall one from the past, and let’s consider how to deal with that.

When you are facing a relational strain, it may not be your first thought to take it to God.  Maybe you examine yourself for causes or try to come up with ways to resolve the strain, which are reasonable things to do, but how much trouble might you save yourself if you went to God first?

Try this, either now or in the future.  Cast that relational strain on the Lord.  Trust Him to sustain you under the weight of it.  Though you feel like it might become more than you can bear, rest in His promise that He will never permit the righteous to be moved.  You can stand strong if you are standing rightly, so ask Him to examine your heart for any wrong you may have injected, make it right, and stand.

Earnest

May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.

I love how intentional the hymn writers were in choosing their words.  Earnest is not a word commonly used today, so allow me to define it.  Earnest, as an adjective, means with sincere or intense conviction.  So, the prayers that are the vehicle by which we bring everything to our Lord are meant to be sincere and offered with intense conviction.

That really challenges us to examine the veracity of our prayers.  Often, we fail to pray at all, but even when we do, are they really sincere and offered with intense conviction? Hmmm.

Let us think about earnest a little differently.  Ear and Nest.

Ear

Ear

At the very least, we need to be sending our prayers up to God’s ears.  He knows our needs before we ask, but still wants us to cry out to Him.  Sadly, we often fail to take advantage of the access we have.  If we are to ever bring all to Him in prayer, we need to fill His ears with our continual pleading.  There have been seasons when I cried out frequently about one thing in particular, but I certainly wouldn’t go so far as to say it became a way of life: filling my Lord’s ear with all the concerns of my life all the time.

Nest

It needs to become a way of living, much like how the bird constructs her nest. A nest is where the birds lay their eggs, sit on them until they hatch, and then nurse their offspring until they can fly.  Think about

Nest

building such a space with your prayers.  Constantly fill the ears of our Lord with your prayers so that they become a place of safety, a cradle for new life.  Sit on those prayers until they hatch, giving birth to new beginnings and new life.  Nurse that  fledgling hope until it is ready to spread its wings and fly.  All the while, putting new eggs in the nest through other concerns.

While this way of thinking about “being earnest” is a bit strange, it gives us another way to wrap our minds around what seems to be a pretty straightforward truth about praying.  This view forced me to come to terms with what might be required to truly be earnest in prayer.  I certainly need the Spirit in order to have any hope of ever praying like that.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:18a ESV

So let’s just keep it simple to finish out.  “Spirit help me pray at all times, with all prayer and supplication.”  Then let Him answer that prayer in you today.

Jesus, thank You for the promises You give to bear our burdens.  Give me the faith to believe You, and the earnestness needed to pray like never before.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Earnest 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 13.4 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.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

We can take all our burdens to Jesus with the confidence he would bear them because He promised us He would.  In Matthew 11:28, He invites us to come and find rest. Would you take him up on his offer today? What burden do you need to bring to Jesus?

And we must make this practice of  bringing everything to Jesus a habit.  If we believe Jesus is the kind of friend He promises He is, it will cause our prayers to be earnest, showing sincere and intense conviction. Is that a fair way to describe your prayers? What must change to make it so?

I love it when the hymns take us beyond this age. There is coming a day when we will no longer need to pray, because all our burdens, trials, troubles, cares, sorrows, weaknesses, pains, sins, and griefs will be no more.  How I long for that day! Imagine what that will be like.

So if all of those things we needed to pray about are gone, what will take there place? A feeling of intense pleasure or joy will continually overwhelm us. In God’s presence, we will offer eternal praise and worship to the One who carried our burdens until He ultimately carried us home. Thank Him!

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 Does Earnest Prayer Look Like? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Promises – https://pixabay.com/photos/bible-blur-book-chapter-close-up-1846174/
Ear – https://pixabay.com/photos/ear-auricle-listen-hearing-2372090/
Nest – https://pixabay.com/photos/nest-empty-home-animal-bird-nest-918898/

by Leave a Comment

Who Mingles Mercy and Might Masterfully?

Friends Forsake?

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.

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 podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

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

We continue our journey through another great hymn today. In the second half of this stanza, we consider the comfort and consolation we can find from distress by welcoming His friendship if we will “Take it to the Lord in prayer”.  What kinds of distress? Let’s think about this.

I Thought You Were My Friend

We have all uttered some version of that statement if we have lived long enough.  The disappointment of a “friend” despising or forsaking us.   I am sorry to bring it up, but it provides a context to welcome again the friendship Jesus offers.

Will you recall for just a moment the pain of that memory when you thought or actually spoke those words?  Not the circumstance, not the scenario, just that moment that allows you to answer honestly “yes” to this question.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Now will you bring it to Jesus?  Maybe again.  Maybe for the first time.

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

As you bring it, ask Him to heal your heart from that pain.  To allow His presence to be a balm to your broken heart.  Maybe you are way past it, but there are still cracks.  Let Him fill them with His love.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24 ESV

In this verse the contrast seems to be between two kinds of companions.  We have all experienced some examples of the first kind, those whose friendship is superficial and who cause trouble.  But I hope you have also experienced at least on one occasion the rare friend who is as loyal as a brother.

Of course, Jesus is the epitome of that kind of friend.  Do you know that?  If so, thank Him and ask Him to show you agin today that friendship.  If not, go to Him right now and ask Him to show Himself to you today in that way.  And then keep your eyes open for He will! 

In His Arms

Jesus Is More Than a Friend

Not only is Jesus that friend who sticks closer than a brother, there is truly no  friend like Him who shows infinite mercy and possesses limitless power.  We often need mercy because of our own choices, but we also need power for the protection from the effect of others’ actions.  The amazing thing is Jesus has the ability to mingle the mercy and the might in the same expression.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Jesus gives us strength even while helping us and holding us in His arms.  He is with us.  Can you recall the last time to stopped to receive that kind of love from Him.  Maybe you have been plodding along and did not realize how much you need it, whether you are in fearful or dismaying spot or not.  You need to open your heart to the tender and strong love of our Savior.

Shield You

Maybe you are VERY aware of your need of it.  Maybe you could name several things that seem to be pressing in our your soul, any one of which could consume you if it were not for the kindness of our God.  You can experience it today, even in the midst of that distress.

Jesus wants to take you in His arms and shield you, providing a solace for you which has no equal.  Solace is comfort and consolation in a time of distress.  Whether you are feeling the distress today or not, take a few moments to come and experience the rest only Jesus offers.  It will be well worth those few minutes.

If you did not already listen to the podcast I want to urge you to do so.  Every week we create a few minutes in them for you to encounter Jesus and His solace.  Either way, take a few minutes now, whether through that experience or one of your own, to just rest in the protective shield of His love for you.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Be resonant.

Jesus, thank You for being a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and mingles mercy and might together whenever I need.  Teach me to come to Your regularly so I can avail myself of Your unparalleled care for me every day. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Honest Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 13.3 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV

Another rhetorical question answered with an emphatic “Yes!” We have burdens of many kinds and too often we try to carry them alone.  What burdens are you carrying today. Again make a quick mental list of your cares. We will do something with them in a moment.

Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.  Psalm 62:8 ESV 

Those things that we might think are meant to destroy us are meant simply to help us find our refuge in God.  Recall that mental list from a few moments ago, all those cares, and pour them out to Jesus right now. Trust Him to meet you and lift those burdens.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24 ESV

The contrast seems to be between two kinds of companions: those whose friendship is superficial and who cause trouble, and the rare friend who is as loyal as a brother 

So there are friends, and there are friends.   Some are superficial ones whose friendship actually causes trouble, and others rare ones who are as loyal as a brother.  Jesus is the epitome of loyalty and will never despise or forsake you. Thank Him for that.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Not only will He never forsake or despise you, but He will actually draw you close so you may find strength, help, and even a lifting in your spirit.  Solace is comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness. That is exactly what Jesus offers His friends. Receive it now…and always.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

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.

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 Who Mingles Mercy and Might Masterfully? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Friends Forsake? – https://pixabay.com/photos/girl-sadness-loneliness-sad-3421489/
In His Arms – https://pixabay.com/vectors/hug-love-feeling-need-sticker-2702900/
Shield You – https://pixabay.com/vectors/shield-escutcheon-heraldic-shield-31869/

Connect With Us

Tuesday Tunings LLC
E: support@resonant7.com