Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee
And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 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.
As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.
Broken Chains
We were no more aware of our chains than we were of our prison. That is until the light of God’s love flooded our cell. Even with awareness there was still no way of escape if it were not for the one the God made available to us by His grace.
Imagine for a moment your heart chained. Barely able to beat, to function as it should, but not knowing any better, the impairment of the bondage was not even clear to us. It was what we understood to be normal.
Then God changed all that. He shattered the doors. He cut the bars of iron in two.
My chains fell off my heart was free
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron. Psalm 107:16 ESV
He set us free by shattering the doors of our prison, loosing the chains that long had bound us. Do you recall what that felt like to have the burden of sin lifted from your heart? Recalling that elation is good fuel for the flame of your soul.
That same light which illuminated my bondage also shattered those shackles. Even more than the release of physical chains my heart was truly free from the consequence of a lifetime of sin. I could have never pryed them off but they melted away in the light of God’s love.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and recall the weight of your chains. Now reflect on how it felt in those first moments to have them fall away. Pray the simple prayer, “God, I praise You for dissolving the chains my sin had forged.”
Following the Chain Breaker
Simply being free was not the end of the story of redemption, but the very beginning. Our Lord has so much more in store for us beyond the miracle of freedom. Still so many taste that liberty and feast no more, content with only the first course of the meal God has made available.
With the weight of our sin and its curse lifted we can rise up. Before that moment we were not able to move, or rather not free to move about in God’s purpose. At best we muddled around thinking that was normal, but somewhere deeper knowing that was not true.
As we rose we were presented with the reality that we needed to choose a path. There are no shortage of ones available but truly one best, the one that has us following Jesus. Can you see His footprints ahead of you so you know which way to go. If not, wait for them to become clear.
I rose went forth and followed Thee
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:15 ESV
We thank Him for that freedom by rising in it and committing to walk in it. It is His steadfast love that set us free and we live to share that wondrous work with all who will listen. Are your lips and your life making that good news known?
The only appropriate response to that newfound freedom is to rise up and follow the One who made it available. First we stand in His presence, free of sin. Then we learn to move about in that freedom, all the while learning that following Him is the only path to enjoying it fully.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and thank God for setting you free. We must learn to live our lives in response to His love by following Him, walking in His ways. Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, show me how to follow You today.“
Jesus, thank You for setting me free and revealing me to me a path. Show me how to walk one step behind you every day. I need Your help. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Faithful Thinking!
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Podcast 43.4 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.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Psalm 107:10-11 ESV
Turning from God’s counsel and rebelling against His word brings darkness, and affliction. It is absolutely a prison of sorts, only the prisoner is often unaware of the bars, which makes it even more sad. When you come to see the bars you long for an escape. Remember?
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart. Psalm 107:13-14 ESV
Deliverance and freedom are available to those who call to the Lord. We could not see the bars and certainly not cry out without His help. Fortunately He sent enough light that we could see them and the way out. Give Him praise.
My chains fell off my heart was free
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron. Psalm 107:16 ESV
He set us free by shattering the doors of our prison, loosing the chains that long had bound us. Do you recall what that felt like to have the burden of sin lifted from your heart? Recalling that elation is good fuel for the flame of your soul.
I rose went forth and followed Thee
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:15 ESV
We thank Him for that freedom by rising in it and committing to walk in it. It is His steadfast love that set us free and we live to share that wondrous work with all who will listen. Are your lips and your life making that good news known?
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.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee
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 Making the Most of Your Broken Bonds appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Broken Chains – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/freedom-break-handcuffs-happiness-4025802/
Followed – https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-nature-sense-landscape-117255/
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