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What To Do When You Miss the Mark?

My Sin, O the Bliss of This Glorious Thought 

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

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

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to 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 one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring, stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. Wellness of soul was made available when Jesus fulfilled the righteous deeds of the law. Let’s tune our hearts.

To Miss the Mark

The stanza focuses on the effect that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has on our soul’s wellness. He satisfied the law’s demands by becoming sin for us. Let’s make sure we understand what sin is.

To sin effectively means to miss the mark, like missing the bullseye in archery. In spiritual or bilabial terms, it means to fall short of God’s commands, literally an immoral act considered to be a transgression of divine law. Simply, Jesus said to love God and love others, so, any action that does not fulfill those demands could be considered sin. Here is an interesting video that illustrates this.

We all sin. We all fall short of the mark of the God’s righteousness. But thanks be to God, there is a remedy for sin.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:7-8 ESV

So let’s spend a little bit of time thinking about this. It is a glorious thought, indeed, that we can walk in the light and have fellowship with God, all because the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin. The bliss is the great joy that aptly describes what we feel when we realize we are free in Christ from the crushing weight of sin. Unfortunately, we grow accustomed to the bliss, so let’s do a little exercise.

RESONATE!
I do not want you to entertain the paths of sin, even in your thought life, but I want to invite you to take a quick inventory. What sins trouble you? Anger, malice, envy, jealousy, lying, stealing, covetousness, etc. Think of what you have struggled with or maybe are still struggling with and make a mental list. We will deal with it below.

My Sin, Not in Part But the Whole

Every Miss, Covered

Now bring to mind not only that brief inventory, but every sin: past, present and future. All of them are dealt with by our gracious Lord. Every time we have ever missed the mark of God’s righteousness, the cross of Christ has addressed it. Not just some of the misses, but every single one. 

My sin, not in part but the whole,

This is truly remarkable. God’s grace has no bounds. We simply must confess that we have missed the mark, and He forgives and cleanses. More than that, it is as if He takes our misses and not only puts them on the target, but makes them bullseyes. He sees us through the perfection of His Son.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESV

You probably believe that but take a minute to let it soak in. Deep down in your soul. Nothing you have ever done is too far off the target for God to cover, if you will humble yourself and confess it. He has done all the work. You simply need to ask.

 

RESONATE!
So do you have any asking to do? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. We are forgiven when we surrender our lives to Christ and ask, but we should also learn the freedom of asking God to forgive us any other times the Spirit brings conviction. We have been invited to walk in the light. Whenever you become aware of any darkness, confess it so you can walk in His forgiveness. Make this a way of life.

Jesus, thank You for dealing with all the times I have missed the mark of righteousness. I have sinned, but You have forgiven me and cleansed me. Teach me how to walk in the light and confess my sin whenever You shine Your light on it. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Blissful 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 18.3 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.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Truly the first three lines of this stanza are one thought, with the fourth being the only appropriate response. This is a glorious thought, not our sin, but that it is taken care of completely. Do a quick inventory of your sins just the last few hours or days. 

Now bring to mind not only that brief inventory but every sin past, present and future, all of them, all dealt with by our gracious Lord. Wellness of soul can only be enjoyed when the sickness of soul caused by sin is remedied. Ask the Spirit to apply that remedy again today.

Every sin we have ever committed, in word, thought, and deed – the entire terrible record – is nailed to the cross which satisfies the legal demands of the law. We bear it no more. It is just as if we had never sinned. Thank Jesus for taking the punishment you deserved.

This last phrase is a quote of Psalm 146:1. We echo the psalmist’s instruction to our own souls, for they can be fickle at times and our forgiving God is worthy of praise. Instruct your soul to praise the name of Your Redeemer today and evey day.

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

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 To Do When You Miss the Mark? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Both images captured from this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn-MxtZLxI8

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Two Steps to Take to Leave Helplessness Behind You

Christ Hath Regarded My Helpless Estate

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Listen to this beautiful version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. 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 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 begin our journey through one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring, stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. A path toward wellness of soul has been made available by our gracious God, but we must be willing to practice what we have learned, especially when it is not easy. Let’s think about this.

Remember

We do not like to admit, but our sin has made us helpless. It has bound us up, so we are not free. It has enslaved us in its unyielding machinations. It has blinded us to the reality of our circumstances. It has left us disheveled, bruised, and battered.

When we are honest with ourselves, in light of Christ’s regard for us, we begin to see all these things. Truly there are two wonders here.  As another hymn writer put it, “The wonders of redeeming love, and my unworthiness” from Beneath the Cross of Jesus.  In this text, the wonders are Christ’s regard and our helpless estate.

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

Though there are a number of New Testament Scriptures which speak to this duality, I like the fact that this Psalm foreshadows Christ’s regard, an expression of the steadfast love of God, even while we were in our low estate.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:23 ESV

This is an archaic use of the word estate. Here is it referring to a condition in life.  Our condition in life, or estate, was separation from the One who loves us forever, yet He chose to remember us. For those who do not now how the story ends, His remembering involved something about it, and it always does.

He sent His only Son to demonstrate His remembrance and effect a change in our estate through His work on the cross, which we will examine below. But first, it is important for us to remember our helpless estate, our unworthiness. Our remembering makes His even more remarkable and gracious.

RESONATE!
Step 1 Remember
You have likely resolved your helplessness by trusting in Christ’s work, but take a few moments to remember what that felt like. You are also likely to have succumb to the temptation to believe you have welcomed helplessness back in to your life when you have struggled with some sin. Once we are delivered from the helpless estate we were in, we do not return. But some of the work of Satan is to convince us we have returned, or worse still, never left. Lies. Once we trust in Christ’s regard for us, we are changed, but we must continually yield to the changing available in the same power that changed us at first. Remember your struggle, whether recent or distant, and praise Christ for His regard. Then vow to walk in it, under the influence of His Spirit.

Christ Shed His Own Blood for My Soul

Reckon

Having just reflected on how helpless we were, you may be inclined to wonder how true that may still be.  This temptation makes it imperative that we understand and declare we are helpless NO MORE! This confidence rests solely and squarely on the finished work of Christ.

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Christ’s regard for our helpless estate was expressed in the most extravagant and straightforward way possible by what He did on the cross.  He allowed His blood to be shed when He laid down His life for us, for our souls. “Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13. And put another way.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV

Die to sin, and live to righteousness.  He had regard for our souls when He invited us to die to sin by dying for our sin. He shed His blood to free us from sin’s curse and make it possible for us to live to righteousness. So how is that going for you?

RESONATE!
Step 2 Reckon
No matter what temptations or trials come, Jesus has made a way for us, out of death and into life. Wellness of soul. But we have to consider ourselves dead to sin, and alive to Christ routinely, otherwise sin creeps in and robs us of our inheritance. Is there any sin you are cultivating which is simulating death? Weed it out and die to it today. Is there any righteousness you are neglecting which could stimulate life? Nurture it and find a more vibrant life today. Take a few minutes and pray about this.

Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood for my soul. You have already made available to me wellness of soul, and escape from death and an invitation to abundant life. Help me to control my reactions to temptations and trials with the assurance of Your regard for me. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Well 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 18.2 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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

In the first stanza, we are challenged by Paul’s contentment no matter the circumstances. Here we are warned that Satan will harass and trials will come, but we can trust God and His purposes through them. Ask God to help you be ready when these things happen.

Let this blest assurance control,

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 ESV

And we return again to this familiar Psalm, here allowing it to put a context on our suffering and a confidence through it that our Good Shepherd is with us. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak that assurance to you today, especially if you are feeling the darkness of some current valley.

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:23 ESV

Even the Old Testament foretells the work of Christ on the cross, the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us. We were helplessly separated from Him by our sin, and He made a way to change that circumstance. Thank Jesus for remembering you, and showing His love.

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV

And here is the great act of love that assures wellness of soul, Christ’s blood shed on the cross. He died to give us life eternal and paid our penalty to redeem our souls. Give Him praise for His selfless sacrifice which allows you to say, “It is well with my soul.”

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, with the refrain.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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

The post Two Steps to Take to Leave Helplessness Behind You appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Christ Hath Regarded My Helpless Estate – https://pixabay.com/photos/composing-woman-fantasy-surreal-2391005/
Christ Shed His Own Blood for My Soul – https://pixabay.com/photos/christ-nails-stigmata-religion-2363694/

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Be Well, Stay Well

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and 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 with Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Thought Idols. This week we will investigate Being Well and Staying Well. 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.”

PROMISE: Isaiah 53:5 Amplified

Be well & stay well

5  But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing];
The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him,
And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.

God, the Promise Keeper pledges to us that our injustices fell on Christ and because of His trials, wounds, and sufferings we can be well and stay well.

PSALM: It is Well  Horatio G Spafford (1873)

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Spafford experienced the trial of complex grief with the loss of his son and then the loss of his four daughters at the same time. Yet, his response was controlled by the confidence that Christ was wounded for his healing. He was able to arrive at the proclamation It is well with my soul in spite of his trials because he took time to grieve his loss. Everyone experiences loss but not everyone assesses their grief and does the work to be well and stay well.

    Impact of grief

PARABLE:  Our world is mourning and we are ill prepared to deal with the tragedy of these complex losses. Whether it is the loss of loved ones, the many losses of normal experiences and expectations of COVID-19, the injust loss of African Americans at the hand of police brutality, or the loss of a marriage or relationship, the recovery from loss is a necessary process. We can journey on the road to recovery knowing that because of Christ’s sufferings, we will receive holistic wellness.  So how do we recover from loss and learn to be well and stay well? 

We can journey on the road to recovering from indirect and direct loss with the assurance that because of Christ, our soul is well.  Though our soul is made well supernaturally in Christ, because we are human, we still have to do the physical work to grieve our losses in order to be well and stay well. We can begin the process of living well (being well and staying well) by examining the impact of grief and intentionally implementing a self-care plan to attend to our emotional, social, physical, and spirtiual losses that come with the trials of life.  The soul training activity this week helps to examine the impact loss has had on our emotional and spiritual well-being. 

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the question: What direct or indirect losses and unresolved grief have occured in my life that are restricting my living well?

The soul training  loss history graph exercise can assist us to identify the unresolved losses within our life. To begin to answer the question, we need to define grief. According to John James and Russell Friedman, authors of The Grief Recovery Handbook and developers of the Loss History Graph, Grief is the conflicting group of human emotions caused by an end to or change in a familiar pattern of behavior. 

Petals of Grief

Soul care training exercise: If you choose, complete the Loss History Graph exercise.

  • When you are ready, clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to help you Recall  the direct and indirect loss events in your life. Allow the Holy Spirti to bring buried or forgotten losses to the surface.
  • Next,  Record the losses in chronological order from the day you were born to the present day.
  • Then, Recognize the patterns of loss that have resulted from your unresolved grief.
  • Finally, Release anything that needs Resolved to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to a plan to resolve your grief. The Grief Recovery Handbook is a self-help tool that can help you to begin to be well and stay well as it relates to grief recovery. You may also want to consider seeking a counselor to help you mourn your unresolved grief.

PRAYER: Jesus, your promise is that I am healed by your stripes. Help me to do the grief recovery work to be well and stay well. Remind me that no matter what loss I experience on this earth, it is temporary. Meet me in my grief, heal my wounded heart, and get the glory from my loss and all the losses we are facing in this world. In the healing name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to breathe and let the work of your wandering fill you with peace.

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 Be well and stay well appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions:
Be well and stay well – Pixabay photos with text added
Grief photos: Pixabay

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How to Keep Your Soul Anchored

Though Trials Should Come

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

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

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to 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 one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring, stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. Wellness of soul is able to be maintained when we learn how to find confidence in Christ to overcome temptations and trials. Let’s tune our hearts.

Rising Above the Waves

In the first stanza, we pondered how to achieve and maintain wellness when sorrows like sea billows roll. Let’s continue that oceanic imagery as we consider how Satan buffets us and trials come. Like the ship in the storm above, each of us faces difficulties that threaten to undo us at times by unraveling our confidence in God. We must prepare for those challenges before they come.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Have you ever considered the possibility that, even when Satan harasses and trials come, God may have allowed or even designed them for our good? This can be a hard pill to swallow, but if we are able to comes to terms with this, it will give us a perspective that allows us to see them very differently. Think about Paul’s words here, and remember from the previous stanza how we considered his resolve to be content in every circumstance.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

Wow! Could God be allowing Satan to harass you and other trials to come to keep you humbly growing in your trust in Him? This is not just likely, it is probable.

Though you feel like that ship above, tossed and thrown about through the tempest, you can remain on top of the waves no matter what comes, if you can cultivate a measure of inner peace and wellness. How do we do that? We look to the One who makes the difference in every circumstance, for He is for us, not against us. More on that below, but first…

RESONATE!
Name the tempests you find yourself in today, the trials and tests, whether from the tempter or elsewhere. Identifying the challenges we face is an important part of overcoming them. Once you have named them, bring them to God. He wants to help you. Make the list of the things that are creating havoc in your heart, and we will deal with them in our next section. For now, ask God to give you His perspective on each of them.

This Blest Assurance

By Anchoring In Christ

Let this blest assurance control,

Later in this stanza, we will look more closely at exactly what assurance the hymn writer is talking about, but for now, look at that anchor.  Until I went searching for an image for anchor in this context, it had never occurred to me how most anchors have a cross in them. Though uncertain about the reasons for this, it certainly makes sense from our perspective. After all, look at these words.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, Hebrews 6:19 ESV

When the tempests rage and the trails come, they fight against the sure and steadfast anchor of our souls, the hope we have in the cross and what Christ accomplished there. Like the chain that connects our soul to Christ, the Holy Spirit reminds us of that sure and steadfast hope as often as we have need to be reminded.  Our blest assurance is the cross of Jesus, and the presence it promises us, even in the midst of our trials.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 ESV

Things get dark at times, but we need not fear any evil for the cross convinces us of Christ’s comfort in affliction. What a Good Shepherd He is to us, bringing confidence even into our suffering. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak that assurance to you today, especially if you are feeling the darkness of some current valley, or ocean floor. 

 

RESONATE!
Do you have this assurance? Have you yielded your life to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to become the anchor for your soul? If not, do it today. If you have, thank Him for being that anchor, and commit to staying connected to Him with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, thank You for being the anchor for my soul. The wellness I experience flows from that hope. Whenever I feel it slipping away, may Your Spirit connect me to it once again. All my hope is in You, Jesus. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Content 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 18.2 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.

 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 

Satan buffets or afflicts and harms us repeatedly along our journey with Christ. Trials certainly come, some brought on by our choices and some by others. Trouble is a companion to all, but God desires to use it to bring us to Himself. Ask Him to clarify that perspective of yours. 

John 3:36 says “anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life”. That is our assurance. We face difficulties, but we do so against the backdrop of the cross and all Jesus accomplished there. Ask God to help you use that assurance to control you today, and in every trial.

Helpless. We do not like to admit that, but our sin has made it so. It separates us from God with no hope of bridging the chasm it created…but for Christ. He regarded our helpless position or estate. Thank Him for the cross again today, and how it demonstrates His regard for us.

“Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13. There was no better way Jesus could express His regard for our helpless estate than what He did on the cross. It accomplished eternal wellness for our souls. Give Him praise now and always!

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

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 How to Keep Your Soul Anchored appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Though Trials Should Come – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ship-sailing-vessel-old-pirate-ship-2275399/
This Blessed Assurance – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/anchor-sea-cross-religion-661991/

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What is God Teaching You Through Your Circumstances?

Whatever My Lot

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Listen to this beautiful version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. 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 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 begin our journey through one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. A path toward wellness of soul has been made available by our gracious God, but we must be willing to practice what we have learned, especially when it is not easy. Let’s think about this.

The Secret of Being Content

When was the last time you were aware you were discontent?

It may have been a moment when you did not get what you thought you deserved. Maybe someone did something to you that you feel you did not deserve. Maybe you have longed for something for a long time, and it continues to allude you, and with it, your contentment.

The issue ultimately lies not in what we have or do not have, nor what happens or does not happen. The issue is not one of externals at all, but of a confidence of an inner reality. Our souls are well, and God has taught us to say that as a conscious, cognitive expression of faith that can transform our thoughts, and our thoughts in turn inform our perspective on all things external.

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

Even if you have recently surrendered to Jesus Christ, you have some awareness of this teaching. You likely did so in part because the Holy Spirit helped you realize that what Christ has done has created the possibility of wellness in your soul, internal, regardless of your circumstances, external. Paul certainly knew this.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… Philippians 4:12b NIV

Philippians gives you great insight into the fact that Paul had indeed learned this lesson. Our circumstances are certainly different than his, but they afford us the same opportunity to learning. Wherever you are in that process, realize what is happening around you today has a purpose in God’s will for your life, and part of that is absolutely to learn this life-transforming reality.

Here is a lesson I am still in the process of learning: to be content in any and every situation. The fact that Paul can declare this gives me hope as I aspire to the same ability. Bless the Lord for Paul’s example, even as you ask Him for the grace required to emulate it.

Indeed, God has taught us to declare the wellness of our soul no matter what our circumstances. Let’s be honest, that is not always an easy thing to do, but He will help us. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how today.

RESONATE!
Take a moment to consider what is happening around you. Though circumstances need not dictate how we feel, they can be incredible teachers if we see them as from the hands of our loving God. Is there peace, sorrows, delight, pain, etc.? Use each as a vehicle to come to God. Once you have worn that path to Him, you will realize how close He truly is and be more apt to bring everything. It is that posture that cultivates wellness of soul, and even enables us to declare it when we do not feel it. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the secret of being content today, as you learn to rest in God.

It is Well

Restoring Wellness

Even those of us who believe we have learned this lesson can easily lose sight of it at times. Why? Because there is always more wellness to experience, so there is no shortage of circumstances to teach it to us. We are all going deeper in our understanding and experience of this simple statement.

It is well, it is well with my soul.

We must learn not only the secret of being content, but the discipline of restoring it when we lose it, even if only for a moment. If you have lost it for many moments, minutes, days, weeks, months, even years, don’t worry… you are in good company. The moment you realize you have lost it is a God-given opportunity to return to the source so your wellness, a gift from God for your good and His glory, may be restored.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 ESV

Are you hungry or thirsty for wellness? That is a gift from God as well.  He will supply it if you will simply let Him lead you to the place of restoration.  Maybe the Good Shepherd wants to lead you to quiet waters, or calm meadows. Maybe He wants to create them inside of you or in your unique context if you can not get to those physical spaces.

Find rest in Him whether He leads you through peace and sorrow or something else. The purpose of the journey is the restoration of our souls, not so much in the destination, but along the way. Will you let Him lead you by embracing your circumstances as teachers of wellness.

RESONATE!
Thank the Good Shepherd for His presence on the path He is leading you. It likely is not your chosen one, but confess He knows better that you. Ask Him to allow the circumstances to teach you the secret of practicing wellness, not in spite of them, but through them. Then thank Him again for His kindness to you today. Repeat it all tomorrow and every day thereafter.

Jesus, thank You for the paths You lead me down and the lessons You teach me through them. I would not choose them, but I surrender to Your design in my journey. I am convinced You desire wellness in my soul, and will teach me how to declare it and live it if I will only surrender. I do so again today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Contented Thinking!

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Podcast 18.1 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 peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream… Isaiah 66:12a ESV

Here the prophet is speaking about the city of Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God.  It is oftentimes fair for us to assume the things He speaks of His city, He also speaks to His people. Thank God for the peace he extends to you, like a glorious river.

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah Psalm 88:7 ESV

This is a heavy truth, that God allows sorrows as surely as he extends peace. Sometimes those sorrows are a result of our actions, but oftentimes the result of others. Ask God to help you trust Him, even when the waves of sorrow overwhelm your soul.

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… Philippians 4:12b NIV

Here is a lesson I am still in the process of learning, to be content in any and every situation. The fact that Paul can declare this gives me hope as I aspire to the same ability. Bless the Lord for Paul’s example, even as you ask Him for the grace required to emulate it.

It is well, it is well with my soul.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 ESV 

Through peace and sorrow, God leads us like sheep guided by a gentle shepherd. The purpose of the journey is the restoration of our souls, that we may bring glory to His name as we learn to walk in a way which reflects His righteousness.

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, with the Refrain.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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

The post What is God Teaching You Through Your Circumstances? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Whatever My Lot – https://pixabay.com/photos/happiness-joy-pure-air-freedom-1866081/
It Is Well – https://pixabay.com/photos/meditation-calm-above-the-city-1287207/

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