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 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.  In the first half of this stanza, we consider cares and the refuge God provides from them if we will “Take it to the Lord in prayer”.  What kinds of forms do those cares take?  Let’s press in again today as we tune our hearts.

Are We? We Are!

I love how this hymn asks all these rhetorical questions.  I love asking questions.  I have often found it is a good way to gain understanding and really hear the person who is there with you.  People like to talk about themselves, so this is truly a great device used very effectively in this hymn.

The question that opens this stanza asks if we are “weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care”.  When was the last time you used the word cumbered?  Yeah, I know, me either.  It means to hamper or hinder.  Those burdens we carry hamper and hinder our walk, equated with our relationship to Christ.  He does not mean for them to cumber us with a load of care, but rather to use those cares to encourage us to come to Him.

Before we go any further though, let’s just get this out of the way.  Are we cumbered?  We are.  

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

We are cumbered. But.  That is a powerful word, and it appears four times in these two verses.

afflicted BUT not crushed
perplexed BUT not despairing
persecuted BUT not forsaken
struck down BUT not destroyed

So what are your current afflictions? Perplexities? Persecutions? Downers? Take a few moments and acknowledge each of them that comes to mind for what they are.  Seriously.  Right now.

Now take a few more moments and thank God that you can bring each of them to Him and because of Who He is and What He has done…you are not crushed, despairing, forsaken or destroyed.  Seriously.  Thank Him right now.

Are we….? We are! BUT.  Instead of being cumbered, you can come to…

Refuge

Kind of like that dated term of cumbered, although not quite as archaic, refuge -in the way I think of it in this light- is more like a castle than a retreat center.  When we think of coming to Him with our cares, I think of running from a full-on assault, not like I simply need some time to decompress and process.  I need to learn to flee to Him so my cares do not cause me to get picked off in the battle raging in my soul.

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

As I see it, there are two parts to this:

1. His refuge
2. My trust

God is a refuge for us.  I must believe this.  I am not going to go to Him if I do not believe He can protect me, or that He wants to do so.  Are you so convinced?  If not, maybe that is why you feel so cumbered.  If convinced, do you still feel cumbered?  If so, maybe you simply are not taking things to Him.  Believe He is a refuge.  That is the first part.

I must trust Him at all times.  That trust will cause me to pour out my heart before Him.  I will not keep things to myself that I am incapable of overcoming.  I will acknowledge when I am overwhelmed and will come to Him.  He wants us to find refuge in Him, but it does require that we bring everything to Him.  Not just the big things.  Everything.  That is the second part.

So how are you doing with these two parts?  Do you believe He is a refuge?  The question that reveals if you actually do is this next one: Are you taking everything to Him?  I know we keep coming back to that in this hymn, but that is by design.  We must resolve this issue and learn to take everything to Him.

Let’s practice.  Think of two things you need to take to Him.   Got them?  Take them to Him now.  Talk to Him about them, and then listen.  Then keep bringing them, especially when they afflict or perplex you, when they persecute or strike you down.  Doing so will help you practice and believe He is your refuge!

Jesus, thank You that even though I face cares of many kinds, You are my refuge from them all.  Help me to learn to bring each and every one of them to You as an expression of my trust in You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Unencumbered 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 13.3 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.

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.

Jesus invites all who are weary and heavy-laden to come to Him and find rest. We all have burdens we struggle under that reveal our lack of strength.  If you can acknowledge your weakness, you are in the good company of the humble hearts who look to Jesus. Can you?

Acknowledging you have a burden you cannot bear positions you to look beyond yourself for refuge and relief.  When you earnestly look, you will find Jesus ready and willing to help you. Take whatever it is to Him right now and find Him to be the precious Savior again, or for the first time.

Little is as painful as when someone you thought was a friend who would stick with you through the worst life offers turns away from you in your moment of greatest need.  Jesus will never do that. If you were still struggling with a time a “friend” despised or forsook you, go to Jesus.

Solace is comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.  We all need that. Though we may find some measure of it elsewhere, no other place compares to that which we find in the arms of Jesus. What an incredible image finding rest and protection there. What’s stopping 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 What Weight Will You Lift to the Lord Today? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Cumbered with a Load – https://pixabay.com/photos/boxes-cardboard-carrying-overload-2624231/
Refuge – https://pixabay.com/photos/battlements-bulwark-buttress-castle-1238268/

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/