Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

Listen to this modern version of this popular hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

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

We begin our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s tune our hearts.

New Every Morning

I love being in the woods. Just walking quietly through the tress, hearing the crunching of the leaves beneath my feet, the wind rustling through the branches brings a sense of peace . This is especially true in the morning.

Morning often reminds me of how God’s mercies are new. I have made it through another night. The darkness is being chased away as the sun rises. The faithful rising of that ball of fire points me again to the real source of warmth and light and I marvel at His faithfulness anew.

Those familiar words from Lamentations often come to mind then, and every time I sing the opening line of this popular hymn. The rising of the sun and the morning it ushers in signal the entrance of new mercies. Each one is an example of the love and faithfulness of God my Father.

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

These incredible words declaring God’s faithfulness come in the middle of a book of sadness. Jeremiah was lamenting the fate of Israel who finally had reaped what they had sown. God faithfully kept His promise by exiling them for routinely choosing to walk paths that weren’t His.

Amidst His lament, we read these words of hope. We can certainly learn something when we acknowledge these words emerge from a book of lament. Even in his great distress, the prophet pens these declarations of God’s faithfulness. Whatever you are facing today, recall God’s great faithfulness and declare it once again amidst your laments. 

He is a faithful Father, even when we are rebellious children. He can not deny His nature and that is a very good thing for us, for too often we fail to live up to ours. Where are you longing to see His faithfulness revealed today? Ask Him to simply act consistently with Who He is.

Father, please show Your faithfulness to me again today.

RESONATE!
What trouble are you facing today? Maybe it is a result of your choices, the choices of others, or some combination of the two. Whatever path led you here, you can still choose to trust in God’s faithfulness to see you through it. You may be tempted to deny His nature, but resist that temptation and declare again today. You can lament your troubles as well, for that would put you in good company, but do not fail to thank Him for His faithfulness, even as you invoke it over your sorrows today. Take a few moments and do that now. 

Among the Shadows

When I walk through the woods, especially early or late in the day, I am often captivated by the shadows. Trees cast very long ones, and they remind me there is darkness amidst the beauty. That simple reminder helps me to face my own darkness with a different perspective.

Things change. People change. Situations change.

God never changes.

The fact that He does not cast a shadow is evidence of that. He is a source of light, rather THE Source, so He creates shadows, but does not have one Himself. The illustration is meant to show that as a shadow reveals when something moves or changes, God does not. He remains the same, Faithful.

There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 ESV

Again, light creates shadows. Shadows move either as the lights move or as the object creating the shadow does. But our Father never changes like those shadows because He is the source of Light and every good thing.

Likewise Jesus is the Light of the World, so He has no shadow. This is also an illustration of His unchanging nature. Everything else may change, but Jesus does not.

What impact does that have on your life today? Things will change. You will change. Others will change. Situations will change. Jesus will not. Accordingly, you can depend on Him and His faithfulness through all those other changes.

RESONATE!
What good and perfect gift do you need today? Maybe a change in a perspective. Or a change in some circumstance. Maybe you need a change in your own heart. The Father of lights can bring it. Will you declare His unchanging nature again today and ask Him to bring about changes in you and your life? He is faithful. He will do it. Take a few moments now and step into His light. 

Father, thank You for your mercies which are new every morning. I am sorry that I often need them renewed because I have used up all of yesterday’s allotment. I declare Your faithfulness again today and ask you to change me and my circumstances in whatever way will most help me give You the glory You deserve. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Mercy-Responsive 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’re 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 46.1 Transcript REPOST

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.

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

He is a faithful Father, even when we are rebellious children. He can not deny His nature and that is a very good thing for us, for too often we fail to live up to ours. Where are you longing to see His faithfulness revealed today? Ask Him to simply act consistently with Who He is.

Father, please show Your faithfulness to me again today.

Jesus is the Light of the World, so He has no shadow. This is an illustration of the fact that He is the source of light and also of His unchanging nature. Shadows move as the objects or source of light which create them move. Everything else may change, but Jesus does not.

Jesus, thank You that I can depend on Your unchanging nature.

One of the expressions of the unchanging nature of God is that His compassion never fails, and that is not because we never put it to the test. We are often self-reliant and treat Him in ways that demand His compassion. Fortunately for us, it never fails. Praise Him.

Spirit, I praise You for Your unfailing compassion.

Nothing we do changes God. Or simply, nothing changes God. He is ever the same. He was, and is, and is to come, in every way, in every moment, everywhere. So even when we are not faithful, that’s right, He still is. Thank Him for being the same yesterday, today and forever.

God, thank You for being faithful eternally.

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 Seeking Mercy Amidst the Shadows REPOST appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Great is Thy Faithfulness – https://pixabay.com/photos/yorkshire-autumn-sunshine-morning-2900064/
There is No Shadow of Turning with Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/nature-forest-moss-landscape-trees-3801537/

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life in death O Lord abide with me

Abide with Me 1847
By: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Listen to this lovely version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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

As we conclude our journey through this hymn in which we plead for the abiding presence of Jesus, ask Him to make Himself known. Let’s tune our hearts.

The Cross

If the last thing we see on earth is the cross of Christ, the first thing we see in heaven will be His face.

The cross is our hope when we face the end of this life, because it is also our hope in every moment until then. When we come to the end of this life we will be inclined to draw encouragement from the things that were dearest to us. The cross is dear to us not only because it gives us hope to face things in this life, but also is the gateway from this one to the next.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

The cross informs and instructs in every situation, be it waking or sleeping, living or dying. When we determine to associate with Christ and His cross in all things it transforms our perspective of everything. What are facing today that you need to see in light of the cross?

This is an interesting request. We are asking our Lord to hold His cross before our closing eyes. Though the setting of this hymn has been the approach of night, the scale seems even grander here, the approach of death. Will you make this prayer your own, now and then?

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and consider the cross. What does it mean to you? Do you think the cross will be the final thing you will want to see, or the last thing. Make this your simple prayer “Lord, keep Your cross before me.” 

The Skies

We know that Jesus path was through suffering, the cross, death, then resurrection. Our path will be the same as we look not only to the cross but through it to what God has in store for us beyond the gloom of this weary existence. Are you learning to rise above the gloom by the light of the cross?

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 ESV

He suffered, and so shall we. Our suffering is never the end but the gateway. Even death, the greatest suffering, is just a doorway into resurrection life. If we join Him in His suffering, we will join Him when He rises. We follow His example and look through the gloom to the skies.

It is the perspective of the cross that shines through even the gloomiest of circumstances and gives the hope of more, even beyond the grave. We are inclined to look down as death approaches but the cross invites us to look up. Ask Jesus to shine His light through your gloom.

RESONATE
Take a few moments to focus your gaze. There is gloom in this life but Jesus wants to shine through it by way of the cross. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, shine Your light through my gloom.”  

Jesus, thank You for Your cross. It allows me to abide with You. It is the vehicle of my abiding as well as the road it travels on. Teach me to live moment my moment in Your presence. In Jesus’ name. 

Cross-fixed 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’re 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 45.5 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.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life in death O Lord abide with me

This is an interesting request. We are asking our Lord to hold His cross before our closing eyes. Though the setting of this hymn has been the approach of night, the scale seems even grander here, the approach of death. Will you make this prayer your own, now and then?

Lord, keep Your cross before me.

It is the perspective of the cross that shines through even the gloomiest of circumstances and gives the hope of more, even beyond the grave. We are inclined to look down as death approaches but the cross invites us to look up. Ask Jesus to shine His light through your gloom.

Jesus, shine Your light through my gloom.

That upward gaze helps us to anticipate the dawning of Heaven’s morning and see through the fleeting vanity of the shadows of earth. We must cultivate this upward gaze. Is there anything that is discouraging yours? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you lift your eyes.

Spirit, help me lift my eyes.

Certainly we need God to abide with us in life because that is when we develop the confidence that He will also be with us in death. Do you need help developing that? Ask God to help you abide with Him now by learning to live in His presence moment by moment.

God, help me abide with You moment by moment.

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.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life in death O Lord abide with me

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 Cross Fixes our Eyes on the Skies, Not the Gloom of the Doom appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Hold Thou Thy Cross – https://pixabay.com/vectors/burial-cemetery-cross-dead-death-1299277/
Shine Through the Gloom – https://pixabay.com/vectors/the-walker-above-the-sea-of-clouds-7310714/

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting where grave thy victory
I triumph still if Thou abide with me

Abide with Me 1847
By: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Listen to this lovely version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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

As we continue our journey through this hymn in which we plead for the abiding presence of Jesus, ask Him to make Himself known. Let’s tune our hearts.

Hand

What better expression of presence is a handing reaching out to touch? The reassurance that simple gesture can bring is difficult to measure. I person can feel very alone, even in a crowded room, but for the gentle touch of a hand.

How much more is this true when we have some sense of the presence of God in our lives? Though we do not feel the touch of His hand, He is no less present when we sense Him with us. That may be through another person, or simply a quiet confidence that He is near.

Never is this more true than when we are facing some fear. Again, it may not be a physical threat, but emotional, relational, even spiritual, though no less real. It is in those moments we most need reminded of the presence of God.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 ESV

There are plenty of adversaries that should strike fear in our hearts if the Lord were not on our side, but He is. So, we need not fear any foe with the Lord nearby to bless. He is our light and salvation. The stronghold of our lives. Thank Him for His presence which drives out fear.

There is difference in you having fear and fear having you. There are foes that evoke fear in us, that is until we invoke the presence of God. His presence changes everything. If you have any fear of any foe welcome the presence of God and watch in confidence as it drifts away.

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and consider your fears. We all have them, but they need not have us. God’s presence drives them out. Make this your simple prayer “God, I welcome Your presence.” 

Tears

Do you recall the last time you tasted the saltiness of your tears? We all shed them from time to time. That is universal. What need not be universal is the lingering pain they can represent.

We have a Savior who not only delivers us from our fears, but sometimes even delivers us through them. Sometimes the path through our fears brings ills and the tears that are often associated with them. Jesus gives us a way to deal with them by providing a perspective on them that changes how we feel about them, both their weight and their bitterness.

Transformation is the way of our Lord. Will you bring the the ills and tears to Him? Trust Him to do with them what you never could.

Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

We do suffer ills and shed many tears, but the weight of them is light and the bitterness absent when we see them in comparison to what God is producing in us through them. The key to this perspective is trusting God in the midst of them so you can see them clearly.

Recall some of the ills you have suffered. Remember some of the tears you have shed. Now bring them to the abiding presence of God. The weight of them lightens in the heaviness of His presence, and the bitterness of them turns sweet. Ask Jesus to change your ills and tears.

RESONATE
Take a few moments to recall and remember. Now ask Jesus to do what only He can do with them. He may not remove them but He will change them. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, transform my ills and tears.”  

Jesus, thank You for Your presence. I can face my foes with courage with You. I can carry the ills I have experienced because they are not so heavy with Your help. I can experience abiding joy on the other side of pain with Your presence. In Jesus’ name. 

Restful 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’re 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 45.4 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.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting where grave thy victory
I triumph still if Thou abide with me

There is difference in you having fear and fear having you. There are foes that evoke fear in us, that is until we invoke the presence of God. His presence changes everything. If you have any fear of any foe welcome the presence of God and watch in confidence as it drifts away.

God, I welcome Your presence.

Recall some of the ills you have suffered. Remember some of the tears you have shed. Now bring them to the abiding presence of God. The weight of them lightens in the heaviness of His presence, and the bitterness of them turns sweet. Ask Jesus to change your ills and tears.

Jesus, transform my ills and tears.

The Holy Spirit allows us to see beyond the painful sting of death and the fleeting victory of the grave as He reveals to us the breathless wonder of the resurrection. Though we may even die, we will live again as the Breath of God breathes life into our souls. Thank Him for that.

Spirit, thank You for life.

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, Romans 8:37. There is no better expression of that love than giving us the presence that allows us to overcome all things, even death. This is the ultimate, eternal victory. Give praise to Jesus for His overcoming presence.

Jesus, I praise You for Your overcoming presence.

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.

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting where grave thy victory
I triumph still if Thou abide with me

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 His Presence is the Hand that Wipes Away Tears appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Thee at hand to bless – https://pixabay.com/vectors/hand-part-reaching-touch-fingers-28964/
Tears no bitterness – https://pixabay.com/vectors/drops-eye-tears-tear-drop-157364/