Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand (1906)
By: Jennie B. Wilson (1856 – 1913)
Listen to this instrumental version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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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 this hymn which challenges us to build on the certainty of God in uncertain days. We must be careful to build on things that will last, so when the storms come, we have a sure foundation. How’s your foundation? Let’s think about this.
Intentional
Have you ever tried to build something and realized part way through that you lacked something essential? Maybe you started, and it became clear later that you were not at all sure the completed project was what you really needed. Or maybe when you finished, it was obvious you had wasted your time.
All these scenarios can be extremely disheartening. But there is a way to avoid them, at least to some extent. That requires a diligent intentionality to make sure the plan -from the beginning- is going to accomplish what is most important to you.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 ESV
Jesus teaches the truth we are singing in this line. We must be careful what our foundation is. If we build on things that last, like God’s eternal word, then we are wise builders, and our lives will be strong. Seems pretty obvious right? Still, many of us struggle to build on that foundation, though it is literally within our grasp to do so.
There are so many things that get in the way of our being routinely in God’s word.
You can not build on eternal things if you do not know what they are. You can not know what they are if you are not in God’s word reading about them. You can not read God’s word if you do not open the book, or the app.
Reading them is only part of the battle, though. Once you read them, you need to ask God how to structure or build you life on them. The Holy Spirit is the best teacher, and He wants you to know God’s words so you can build your life on them.
RESONATE!
If you are not reading God’s word regularly, will you commit today to ask Him to help you plan and carve out time to do so? Just reading is not enough though. When was the last time you simply asked the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and give you understanding of God’s eternal word? Read a verse or a passage today, but first ask the Holy Spirit to bring it to life so you will know how to build on it. That exercise will give you hope.
Yet Childlike
Even when we do develop the intentional discipline of getting into God’s word and building our hopes on its truths, we must always maintain a childlike posture before Him. It can be tempting to oversimplify spiritual realities when we see a truth, build on it, and see the positive outcome. God’s ways are higher than ours and keeping a right perspective on how limited is our understanding is always healthy.
I love the picture here. We must choose to cling to our Father’s hand even when we begin to figure some things out because that humility will keep us out of trouble. It will keep us from running off into mischief. It will also limit how much we put our hands on because we are somewhat occupied simply with the thought of staying close to Him by not letting go.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8 ESV
Does that image, that line, and this verse describe your relationship to God? If not, you are probably feeling the effects of that on your soul. While getting out of those messes is not easy, the first simple step is righting wherever we may be failing. Grab, hold, and cling to His unchanging hand today, whether you think you need to or not. It will uphold you when the weight of life is too much.
RESONATE!
Often our failure to cling to God can be traced to pride. We thought for a moment, or a decade, we could handle things. When we finally realized we were wrong, the humility required to reach for and hold to God can be sorely lacking. Will you receive the challenge of the song-writer and hold to God’s unchanging hand today? You may be very surprised to find He has been holding you all along.
Jesus thank You that You uphold us when our strength is simply not enough. Forgive me for times I have convinced myself I could handle my circumstance. In humility I turn my heart to you again today and determine to let go of everything that might tempt me to hold to it instead of You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Clinging Thinking!
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Podcast 53.1 Transcript, 19.1 Replayed
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.
Time is filled with swift transition,
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV
Time and chance are the great equalizers. They happen to every one of us. Since there is no avoiding them, the only alternative is to find a way to deal with their effects. Thank God that He has revealed this truth to You, and provided hope in Him.
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah Psalm 75:3 ESV
With the swift transitions and the shifting landscape, it is hard to stand unmoved. Actually impossible, but for God. He is the One who holds the earth steady and is able to steady us as well when things come shaking our lives to their core. Praise His steady hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal,
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 ESV
Jesus teaches the truth we are singing in this line. But we must be careful what our foundation is. If we build on things that last, like God’s eternal word, then we are wise builders, and our lives will be strong. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any ways you may be building on anything else.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8 ESV
We must resolve this issue before the storms of life come. If we wait to cling to God only when peace slips away, it may be harder to sense His presence and His holding us. Let go of anything that may be keeping you from clinging to God. Ask Him to help you.
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.
Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
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Image Attributions
Build Your Hopes – https://pixabay.com/photos/book-bible-religion-reading-study-2617987/
God’s Unchanging Hand – https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-child-s-hand-hold-tight-1797401/
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