Perfect submission perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy whispers of love
Blessed Assurance 1873
By: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
Listen to this worshipful version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we begin our journey through this well-beloved hymn rest in the assurance being in Christ provides to you. This is our story and song, praising Jesus all the day long. Let’s tune our hearts.
Two Sides of the Same Coin?
I think that image above expresses how many of us think of submission and delight respectively. Submission is a drag, so why would I want to pursue that? Delight, on the other hand, is a blast, so bring it on!
The real power is unleashed in our spiritual stories when we realize these two are actually connected at a very basic level. Submission to God allows us to find delight in Him. Delight in God makes submission to Him much easier. They influence and enable each other greatly. This realization gives us some motivation to actually pursue submission rather than avoiding it.
The writer not only connects these two seemingly opposing pursuits but esteems a particular brand of them, perfection. While we make it our aim, we are mindful that experiential perfection only exists in heaven. With this in mind, the interplay of these two also encourages us to lift our gaze.
Perfect submission perfect delight
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 ESV
When we begin to walk in the assurance of Jesus a new way of seeing the world opens before us. We begin to learn the delight of knowing and doing the will of God, but even still that is not an easy path. We need help. Thanks be to God He gives it. Delight in submitting to Jesus.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and thank God for the twins of submission and delight. Few people ever realize how connected these two pursuits are. Will you be one of them? Make this your simple prayer today “Jesus, help me to submit and delight in You.” Then trust Jesus to help you do them both.
Eyes to See
This stanza interestingly uses the senses of sight and sound to create a heightened awareness of God’s activity in our lives. In this part we are encouraged to consider the things that God wants to to show us, namely visions of angelic messengers. Scripture has a lot to say about these servants of God.
The visions the writer is speaking about are ones which elicit rapture or joy. Remember the context for being able to see these visions? Submission and delight. God does not have to show us these joy-evoking visions, but He apparently chooses to do so on the heels of our finding pleasure in surrender.
Stop and imagine for a minute what it might be like to see such visions. Having submitted to God and found joy in that submission, He opens your eyes to see things that bring great joy. What kinds of things? Maybe you have prayed for something to come to pass and he gives you a glimpse of it. Maybe you have prayed for reconciliation in a relationship and He shows signs of it happening. Maybe you have interceded for years for someone to find peace in Jesus and He reveals indicators that may be happening.
Whatever those visions are they are a gift from God. That is especially true if they are visions like the one described below. Oh to see visions like this!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10 ESV
One soul turning to Jesus causes joy among the servants of God, both earthly and heavenly. Oh for eyes to see the response of the angels over our repentance. It pleases God when we turn to Him, but it also pleases the angels of God, and welcomes their work on our behalf.
The angels rejoice right along with our Father as we turn to Him in faith. The Scripture tells us they rejoice over one sinner who repents. Are you one of those who has repented? Want to see the angels rejoicing? Turn to God today and watch the visions of joy burst on your spiritual sight.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how you can cultivate your spiritual sight. Are there areas of your life that lack submission or delight? We must live lives of repentance where we are constantly turning to God. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Father, I turn to You today.” Then trust the Spirit to help you practice that every day.
Spirit teach me how to walk each day in submission and delight, finding the perfection of Your will ever unfolding before me. Forgive me for sometimes choosing a different path. Help me turn back to You wherever I stray. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Repentant 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.
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Video 31.2 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.
Perfect submission perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy whispers of love
Submission and delight may not seem to go together but they are actually two sides of a coin, as it were. Submission to God allows us to find delight in Him. Delight in God makes submission to Him much easier. They also seem to unlock some heavenly assistance.
Jesus, help me to submit and delight in You.
The angels rejoice right along with our Father as we turn to Him in faith. The Scripture tells us they rejoice over one sinner who repents. Are you one of those who has repented? Want to see the angels rejoicing? Turn to God today and watch the visions of joy burst on your spiritual sight.
Father, I turn to You today.
Angels descend bringing things from the Father to us. What an incredible and powerful truth! God sends His messengers to us to bring us what we need. This becomes our story and our song when we determine to praise our Savior. Look up. Help is on the way!
Jesus, help me praise You today.
Mercy and love. Who would not welcome more of those into their lives? What a beautiful description of the things God sends to us by way of His angelic messengers. What kind of echoes do you need to hear today? Ask the Spirit to open your ears to hear.
Spirit, open my ears to hear those echoes.
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 Discovering Pleasure in Surrender appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Perfect submission perfect delight – https://pixabay.com/photos/emotions-man-happy-sad-face-adult-371238/
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight – https://pixabay.com/photos/close-up-eye-eye-lashes-iris-pupil-1845247/
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