Blogs - Resonant 7

August 7, 2019 by Sherri Woods 4 Comments

I Talk, You Hear

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri 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 conversation 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 of examining what it means to Have a little talk with Jesus and tell him all about our troubles.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we explored Mind Talk. This week we will investigate what we can expect when we tell Jesus about the troubles we battle in our feelings, thoughts, sensations, and memories. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue of having a little talk with Jesus by stating:

“Jesus, I invite you to help me to wander aimlessly into your Presence where my troubled mind, body, and soul can be transfigured. Illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you. Prepare me to talk and then to be still and listen.

PROMISE: Jeremiah 29: ¹²Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear (your voice) and I will listen to you. (Amplified). When we choose to pray to Jesus we can be assured that He will hear us with His heart. Psalm 34:18 promises us that Jesus is near us when we have troubles. When our thoughts, feelings, and actions are troubled, we can have a transformational talk with Jesus.

PSALM: The song writer of Just a Little Talk with Jesus invites us to join him in having a transformational conversation with Jesus.

Chorus:

(Now let us) have a little talk with Jesus
(Let us) tell Him all about our troubles
(He will) hear our fainted cry
(He will) answer by and by
(When you) feel a little prayer wheel turning
(And you) will know a little fire is burnin’
(You will) find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

The songwriter begins the chorus with NOW because he knows that when we are in the midst of trouble, there is an urgency to talk and to be heard. Jesus is an active listener. Jesus listens with his heart. When our heart bellows for help, His heart is actively listening to learn, evaluate and analyze, and to understand our troubles. In response, His love translates our troubled cries, interprets our incommunicable moans, and deciphers our distressed tears.

PARABLE: The songwriter instructs us to have a little talk with Jesus and tell Him all about our troubles because he has been a recipient of the scriptural outcome. Psalm 46:1 promises us that God is our refuge and strength (mighty and impenetrable), A very present and well-proved help in trouble.

We learn from this psalm that there are three immediate benefits we receive when we share our troubles with Jesus.

We receive refuge because God is our shelter in distress (Psalm 27:5).
We receive strength because God is our security and power in despair (Psalm 138:3).
We receive help because God is our remedy in difficulty (Psalm 54:4).

When we have a little transformational talk with Jesus, our thoughts that are guided by our feelings are HEARD because Jesus is an empathetic listener. He is attuned to our sound, our feelings, and our emotions. Jesus is a responsive listener. Not only does Jesus detect the faintest whisper, discern the slightest groan, and perceive the softest sigh but He responds and intentionally delivers us from our troubled thoughts, feelings, memories, and sensations (Psalm 34:17). Jesus is a proactive listener. Jesus implements a safety rescue plan. Jeremiah 29:11 affirms that God knows the plans He has for us and that even trouble result in a bright, hopeful, prosperous, and non-harmful future.

Transformational conversations are about t.a.l.k.ing and h.e.a.r.ing. When in prayer we Tell Jesus about our troubles, Acknowledge our sin, he will Listen and guide us, and He will Keep His word. When we cry out, He will Hear and discern our need, with Empathy he will feel our emotions, Answer by responding according to His plan, and Rescue and deliver us from our troubles.

PONDER and WANDER:

In Psalm 116, David declares that because God is an empathetic, attentive, and proactive listener, he will pray as long as he has breath. Are prayer and breathing connected? Yes. Breath is essential to our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Therefore, it seems natural that it be intentionally included in our wanderings and transformational conversations with Jesus. Breath prayers are a contemplative practice. Normally the practice is done by selecting a scripture and breathing in the first portion of scripture and breathing out with the next, and repeating this pattern over an extended period of time.

Today we will practice breath prayers slightly differently as we accept the invitation to wander with Jesus and ponder what we are in need of right now. For example, I need help in this moment. As I breath in I am visualizing the research article that I need to complete, as I exhale I am crying out to Jesus the word help.

When you are ready, take a moment and breath in and out inviting your spiritual senses to activate. Next, allow the Holy Spirit to help you identify right NOW which promise you need to receive. Do you need refuge? Do you desire strength? Do you want help? After you are aware of what you will focus your attention on today, practice doing a breath prayer. Breath in and as you exhale, say the word that is the focus of your intention several times until you experience the peace of God’s promise.

Continue to practice this breath prayer and to create new breath prayers in the days to come. Know that whatever your trouble, Jesus is waiting to listen, hear, and answer you if you will take the time to Have a Little Talk With Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, thank you that you are our Avenger and will defend those who cry out to you. Help me in the midst of trouble to come to you. I know that You are for me but sometimes my doubts and fears and emotions grab hold of me. Translate and interpret my silent cries and transform them to shouts of praise as I focus on the promise that even trouble MUST work out for my good. In the name of Jesus my Savior I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to offer God your gratitude. Let the work of your wandering fill you with hope and the assurance that Jehovah Shammah our Lord will be there listening in your times of trouble.

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.

PERSONAL BONUS: If you would like, you may Listen to the three minute prayer as I share my experience with the Resonant 7 Community.

To wander and ponder is a part of my personal life. Wherever I go, I look for opportunities to encounter God. During my visit to Old Jerusalem this spring, I visited the Western Wall a.k.a. the Wailing Wall, and considered to be the most sacred place in the world. Regardless of the beliefs, there is a unified understanding of all who gather at the wall that the prayers they offer will be prayers heard. The prayers of a Christian believer are like a run on sentence that God never grows tired of hearing. We can pick up the conversation at any time.

August 6, 2019 by smattern Leave a Comment

Talking to One with a Much Bigger Perspective

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our trouble
He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Just a Little Talk with Jesus
By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)

Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.

This week we wrap up the talking portion of our walking/talking journey, I hope you will take a little time today to tune your heart, and tomorrow as Dr. Sherri Woods returns with her third Wednesday Wanderings, a different look at the text we will use to tune today. You can be certain of getting it if you are on our list, since it will come directly to your email. If you are not on our list, sign-up today in the box to the right.

Let’s tune our hearts!

A Little Talk with Jesus

We need to learn to bring our bumps and bruises to Jesus. That’s what the image above reminds me. We have a tendency to try to handle things on our own, or rationalize that we should not bother Jesus with the small stuff.

The little boy has a skinned up knee, maybe he fell down. One corner of His mouth is bruised, maybe he said something someone thought he should not. His eye is black and blue, maybe he saw something that got him in trouble. I can relate to the possible causes of his pain, and I am certain you can too.

Some of our trouble we bring on ourselves, and some comes through others. Either way it hurts. You can see he is discouraged, and you know what that feels like.

The dove perched there and the face on the bench remind me that God is near to the brokenhearted, but I am not convinced the boy knows it. How often have we been guilty of not taking advantage of the access we have to God? Like a little child, we can come to our Jesus, and…

Tell Him All About Our Trouble

The look on this little boys face could be taken many ways. Maybe he knows He has brought some trouble on Himself. “Dad, there is something I have to tell you.” Maybe someone else is giving Him the trouble. “Dad, someone at school is being mean to me.” Either way, going to his Dad to talk is a great idea.

They will be likely be able to sort out the problem, get to the root cause of it and maybe even figure out a way to deal with it in that one little talk. Maybe they will only be able to begin to plot the course out of the trouble, but even that is better tan dealing with it on his own.

What trouble are you dealing with today? Have you had a little talk with Jesus about it? Have you told Jesus all about it? If so, do you have s sense of what He is saying to you? If not, why not? Either way, take a minute right now before reading any further to have a little talk with Jesus.

He Will Hear our Humble Cry

Though there are many reasons we do not talk to Jesus about our troubles, I have often said one of the most basic reasons is we simply lack the faith that He actually hear us. Even if we have resolved that crucial issue, many wrestle to find rest in a certainty that He cares enough to do anything.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17 ESV

That is pretty straightforward. When we cry for help the Lord hears us. Maybe you dismiss this verse because you feel you are not righteous. If you have determined to put your confidence in Christ’s work to make you right with God, the Father does not determine your righteousness based on what you done, but on what Christ has done. Simply resolve to trust Christ, and believe He hears you.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV

This Scripture encourages us to tell Him all about our troubles and the anxiety they create as a response to His care for us. Because He cares for us, we should cast our cares on Him. Are you convinced God cares for you? Think about your life, and all the good things. God is the source of all of them. Ask Him to help you accept this foundational truth.

He is reaching out to you even now. Even as you read this. Trace His finger reaching out to you and respond by reaching to Him. He will hear because He cares for you.

He Will Answer

The last part of Psalm 34:17 puts God on the hook to do something. It says He will “deliver them out of all their troubles.” For me this is the hardest of the equation, as if this were a formula at all. But there is a promise element to these words, a stronger element than just a principle at work when God intervenes.

When the righteous cry for help, He will deliver. If you have cried out for help before, trusting in the finished work of Christ to impart His righteousness on you, you may have been left wondering when the deliverance would come. You may have been let waiting for it for a long time. You may still be waiting for it today.

Our song text contextualizes God’s answer with a copious timeframe. By and by. Not in common usage today, this poetic phrase means simply, “before long” or “eventually”. Those two definitions seem very different, although they are one and the same.

To One who is eternal, before long comes much more quickly than it seems to one bound by time. The song is reminding us that God will answer eventually. The problem with that promise is that it came seem like a long time coming, but that is simply our limited and frankly very small perspective.

He will answer. It may not be until by and by. But He will answer.

Take a few moments and have a little talk with Jesus about the troubles you are experiencing today or this season. Tell Him you are confident He will answer, and ask Him for the patience to wait until the before long or eventually happens. He will hear even your faintest cry because He cares for you.

We will continue to warm our hearts with these truths as we consider our conversations with Jesus on Thursday and subsequent weeks, but be sure to take a few minutes and cultivate that heart to converse with Jesus through the video log and/or transcript below the prayer. The video is available only to our Subscribers, but the transcript is available to everyone. Become a Subscriber today. Simply click here.

Restful Tuning!

Jesus, teach me the value of having little talks with You throughout this day. Help me to practice the discipline of telling You about my troubles, confident You hear me and will answer. Give me the patience to wait until You do. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone, the transcript below.

Video 8.3 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.

Make little talks with Jesus a habit. Work at just normal conversation. Share your heart, but make sure you spend time listening as well, because God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason. Ask Jesus to help you grow in your ability to talk with Him.

He hears even our faintest cry, so don’t worry if you are having trouble finding the energy or courage to pray with passion, just let it out. He will answer, it may be soon, or after a little while, but rest knowing His response is coming.

I believe the prayer wheel symbolizes praying without ceasing. That does not mean constant talking, but always praying, and especially when something is burning inside that you just have to share with Jesus. Ask Jesus to stoke that fire.

Though talking with Jesus may not immediately change your circumstances, it can immediately change you. Whether just telling HIm about it, or actually sensing His response, it changes things. Talk to Jesus right now for a few moments right 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.

Image Attributions
A Little Talk – https://pixabay.com/photos/outdoors-grass-summer-field-sunset-3202494/
Tell Him All About Our Trouble – https://pixabay.com/photos/sad-child-boy-kid-crying-tears-219721/
He Will Hear – https://pixabay.com/photos/michelangelo-abstract-boy-child-71282/
By and By – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/acient-planet-astronomy-astrology-1841699/

August 1, 2019 by smattern Leave a Comment

Steered Safely To Heaven’s Shores

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
By: Anonymous

Listen as you read. This is a really nice gospel instrumental version.

As we established in our Tunings on Tuesday (find it here), we all have an expiration date, yet will also live on beyond time as we know it. When all these moments end, and the rest of eternity begins, we will be just as secure in God’s care as we are today. Let’s think about this.

Guide Me

Having acknowledged out weakness and our mortality, we now turn our attention to God’s direction and sovereignty. We begin with the simple prayer for Him to guide us. This is important because it allows us to admit our need for His help in this most crucial moment, the one when we step beyond time.

Jesus promised in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for us and would return to take us to be with Him. Thomas spoke what all the disciples where probably thinking.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” John 14:5 ESV

Jesus answered the question with one of the most profound and powerful phrases in Scripture.

“I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6 ESV

Jesus is the Way to the Father, and He faithfully leads us through every step of our journey, including that last leg that brings us to our eternal home. Our need for Jesus to guide us will possibly more evident in those moments that every before, but it is no less real for every other moment we will live until then. Prepare yourself to rest in His guiding influence then by practicing it now.

Ask Jesus to teach you how to walk His Way, so you may know the Truth and in it find real life. Then keep your mind open for opportunities to practice it today. They will most assuredly come.

Gently, Safely O’er

Let’s begin to develop our understanding of the end of this life and the beginning of the next as another part of our great journey with Jesus. He is our Captain. Imagine you are on a ship. As the sun sets on your life as you know it, like in this image, you will have the opportunity to trust Jesus to guide you through the coming night to a brighter day.

We can face death, which can threaten to swallow us up in its darkness, with a confidence that the One who is Life can lead us through it gently, and safely. Though we do not know exactly what to expect, we can trust that the One who led us the rest of the Way will lead us then as well into the Truth of all He has promised us.

Think of some of the things Jesus has led you safely through. Remember how gentle He was with you, even though the circumstances seemed to want to tear you apart. Decide you can and will trust Him to lead you to the very end of your journey.

To Thy Kingdom Shore

Our destination. The shores of His Heavenly Kingdom. What a beautiful image to create for people well aware they are on a journey! On the other side of the ocean of life is a certain harbor or haven.

I am reminded again of some words shared at my dad’s funeral service. A woman I did not know stood and read poem. It was powerful and gave symbolic expression to exactly what I believe had happened for my father. These are those words, from the poem entitled “Gone from my Sight”.

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze,
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch her until she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!”
Gone where? Gone from my sight – that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side,
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, and not in her.

To Thy Kingdom Shore

And just at the moment
when someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!”
there are other eyes that are watching for her coming;
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:
“There she comes!”

What a powerful illustration! This picture captures some sense of that. Jesus led my dad, gently, safely over to that kingdom shore. Jesus will lead each of us gently, safely over to that same shore.

Are you trusting Jesus for that last final part of your journey? Is there anything that is keeping you from trusting Him completely? Tell Jesus you will trust Him to lead you all the way to His Kingdom shore.

To Thy Shore

So have you even imagined what your arrival there will be like? Who will greet you? What you will see? When we arrive there we will be just as real and alive as we are now, and so will that place be as the place where you are reading this.

This idea of a shore is helpful because it makes a place that seems almost too good to be true just a bit easier to fathom, though I am certain in its grandeur it is truly unfathomable. I have remarked for years that if God made all we see in 6 days, but it has taken Jesus 2,000 years to “prepare a place for” us, then how much better must that place be than even the grandest vistas this creation affords. Even if shores are not your favorite places to find rest and rejuvenate, I am certain you will love that one.

Jesus, thank You for the confidence Your care in the past gives us as we face otherwise uncertain futures, including our own demise, of the demise of those we love. Teach us to trust Your guidance, knowing it is gentle and safe, like You. Take us at the end of our days to that Kingdom shore. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Careful Thinking!

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Subscribers and Free Members enjoy this podcast! While everyone can the transcript below! The podcast features meditative music and moments to follow the instructions given herein.

Podcast 7.3 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.

When my feeble life is o’er,

1 Corinthians 15:53 ESV

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

There will be an end to this life. The songwriter says feeble, the Scripture says perishable and mortal, all three make clear it will not last forever. Though painful, this is an important reality to acknowledge because it forces us to deal with our mortality. Thank Jesus for the courage to face death.

Time for me will be no more;

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Time versus eternity. We are so constrained to the construct of time that it is difficult for us to even fathom what eternity is. He put it in our hearts, yet we still can not truly understand it. Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of forever.

Guide me gently, safely o’er

Romans 8:38-39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from His love, not even death. That hope gives us the courage to trust that He will gently, safely take us to our eternal home with Him. Give Him praise!

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Hebrews 12:28 ESV

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

An eternal kingdom awaits us. Like the passengers on a ship, our Captain will get us to our final destination, no matter what storms may come.. We will arrive there safely as certainly as we can leave here peacefully. Thank the Father for all that awaits us beyond this life.

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

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

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

Image Attributions
Guide Me – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/navigation-points-of-the-compass-272178/
Gently, Safely O’er – https://pixabay.com/photos/mast-rigging-ship-sailboat-983904/
To Thy Kingdom Shore – https://pixabay.com/photos/sail-sunset-sea-water-ocean-3585674/
To Thy Shore – https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-sky-water-waves-ocean-sea-2575958/

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,
And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Just a Little Talk with Jesus
By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)

Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.

On Tuesday we continued our walking and talking journey with Jesus by remembering how He is our friend always watching over us. And that is a good thing because we face many challenges and difficulties. We can take it all to Him though; but we often fail to do so. Why do you think that is? Let’s think about this.

Go to Him

We have access through our faith in Christ to the throne of mercy. Any time we want to we can lift our gaze from the darkness of this weary world and find that light from heaven which is ever-ready to flood our souls. Unfortunately, we just fail to look up. Ever wonder why?

I think there are a number of reasons. I wonder which of these you may have used, maybe even as recently as today. Here are a few, with some thoughts.

“I don’t want bother Him with this.” As if anything is too small.
“He may not answer.” He always answers, just rarely when or how we wish He would.
“I can probably handle this.” Maybe, but it would be better to trust God and watch for His provision.
“I am not sure what to say.” Just talk to Him and listen to what He is saying to you. Don’t complicate this.
“_____ _____ _____ ___ _____.” Are you mindful of your most common reason for failing to pray?
“I am not really convinced He cares.” Of course He does, that is why He tells us to bring everything to Him.

This last one may be the real reason most of us pray less than we could. Not sure you have been commanded to bring everything to Jesus in prayer? Consider this Scripture.

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

Plain and simple. What should we bring? Everything. How? Prayer. To whom? God.

He Knows My Every Care

Does He really?

Did you notice that last phrase of the verse? “Let your requests be made known to God.” (emphasis mine) What do you think that means?

Most English translations use some version of that wording implying, it seems, that God does not know your requests. That is not what the verse means. Rather, it is another command, this one having to do with the practice of simply presenting these requests to God.

Think of it this way.

Often parents are able to anticipate their children’s needs. Why? Because we love them and we know what is best for them. Sometimes they ask for those things. Sometimes they ask for other things. As parents, sometimes we want to hear their heart expressed. We occasionally even have the answer behind our back in our hand, but we just want to hear and see that longing expressed in making the request known.

In many ways that is also true of God, only His expression of it is perfect! I wonder what He has behind His back for you, waiting for you to ask. Some relief? Some blessing?

Against that backdrop, it truly is a mystery why we do not take more things to Jesus more often. Child are not afraid to ask. Somehow that is a behavior we have learned. How unfortunate.

Just a Little Talk

It is unfortunate because of the impact on us and our situations when we have a little talk with Jesus. When you think of that, what kind of communication comes to mind? A text. A call. A face-to-face. Each have their place and accomplish certain things.

Texting is truly best for communicating simple bits of information. It obviously lacks the emotional component, which no emoji can make up for. When you need an answer to a complex question, this is probably not the best choice. It does however accomplish what it was designed to do.

You: Are you coming to the prayer meeting tonight?

Jesus: Yes, I will be there. 😉

Calling allows you to pick up on the emotion of the other communicant and exchange more commentary than the bare facts. Still you can not see the person, unless you are FaceTiming them. Yes, I believe that is actually a word now. Even then there are other cues that are harder to pick up on unless you are in person.

A face-to-face encounter is the best because you can read the person’s body language in conjunction with what they are saying. If there are inconsistencies they are easier to identify. There is much more connection when you can look someone in the eye, for it is like looking into their soul.

I use this imagery to help you think about your interactions with Jesus. Which of these three characterizes your communication with Him? Is it more bits and pieces, but impersonal? Does it have some genuine interaction going back and forth? Or is it deep and intimate?

Wherever it is in that continuum you can change it. How?

Have a little talk with Jesus. Have several. And keep having them. They will make all the difference!

Jesus, thank You that I can talk with You. My talks with You really make a difference and so I want to do it more. Help me to develop from wherever it is to a deeper level. I find great comfort on the fact that You know every care, but I want to present my requests with greater consistency. Help me please. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Practical Thinking!

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

Subscribers enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!

Podcast 8.2 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.

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,

Psalm 42:3 ESV

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Here is a stark and honest description of the weight our souls feel at times, pain within, unbelief without. This is likely not your constant condition, but like the Psalmist and our song writer we all have seasons when we feel this way. Thank God that He and His word acknowledge that.

But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.

Psalm 121:4 ESV

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Take comfort in the fact that though you may cry yourself to sleep in the midst of your torment on the nights you can even get to sleep, the Lord never slumbers, so vigilant is He in His care for you. Indeed, Jesus watches over you day and night.

I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

We have been commanded to bring all of our cares to Him, yet at times we fail to do so, choosing instead to try to work things out ourselves. How foolish, not to mention disobedient? Jesus cares for you and wants you to talk to Him about everything. What do you need to talk with Him about today?

And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

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

Anxiety appears again in this verse which adds a command to not be anxious to the one to pray. We needlessly carry anxiety. Jesus gladly takes it. Keep nothing back. Give Jesus all your cares and leave yourself with nothing to be anxious about today. Go ahead, do it right now.

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

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

Image Attributions
Prayer –https://pixabay.com/photos/looking-up-hope-black-white-906888/
Cares – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-desperate-sad-tears-cry-1006100/
Talk – https://pixabay.com/photos/phone-communication-connection-2499668/

I Talk, You Hear