Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
By: Anonymous
Listen as you read. This is a really nice gospel instrumental version.
We turn our attention back to Just a Closer Walk with Thee one last time. And as we do we come to the core prayer of this hymn, echoed even in the title. Oh, for a closer walk with Jesus. Let’s finish this out strong, settling into a strong stride with Jesus. Let’s tune our hearts.
Just
This is such a simple word, but it can be used and taken very differently. I have heard people use it in prayer almost like an apology that they are asking for anything. “Lord, just help me make it through the day.” Have mercy on us Lord!
That is not at all what the writer is saying here. Of all the things I could ask for Lord, I am going to ask for the best of all things, the thing which ushers in all the other good you have in mind for me. I will ask for nothing more than to walk closer to You.
That is not intended to be a “Lord, I guess I will only ask for a closer walk,” but rather “Please Lord let me at least walk closely to You, no matter what else may come.”
So when you get ready to put your feet in motion, is this the prayer that is on your lips? “Jesus, as I walk, let me walk close to You”. As you are walking along, do you keep praying this? “Jesus please help me walk close to You.” When you journey is over do you stop to thank Him for helping you walk closely?
Determine to make this a normal, regular prayer. When you are done reading, before you get up and into the next thing, simply ask Jesus to help you walk closely with Him. If you are walking and reading, first be careful, and then ask Jesus to help you walk closely with Him. Developing these little habits are one of the best way to tune our hearts routinely.
Plea’s
When we sing a line like this, it can be so calm, and the assumption can be that this is how we always ask to be closer. Should be regularly ask Jesus to help us walk closely with Him in the normal things of life? Absolutely! But sometimes abnormal things happen and we lose our calm demeanor and make an urgent, even emotional request of Jesus.
Is it ok to come to Jesus stressed and uncertain of where else to turn. Absolutely! Make no mistake, Jesus is not our easy button, or a get-out-of-jail free card, but we can, and even should come to him when we find ourselves in the midst of situations that are bigger than us.
Prayer is the access to the One who has the help and even is the answer. How often we have not availed ourselves of this access which Jesus makes available to us! Let’s determine to get better at that, and make it a habit to reach out to Jesus when challenging times come so we can develop a normal rhythm of asking.
What was the last urgent, emotional request you made of Jesus? Did crying out to Him immediately change the circumstance? Often times it does not. When it doesn’t, ask Jesus if part of what needs to change is you. It is a tough prayer, but one that we must learn to make a part of our walk with Jesus.
Gratitude
And when He answers your plea, and He will, take some time to thank Him for responding. It may not seem like much, but that kind of response informs your next one, and so on. It is a small part of learning to walk closely with Jesus, a grateful heart, aware, alive, connected, and yes, Resonant!
Urgent Tuning!
Jesus, help me to make my walk with You a priority and something I regularly take time to develop by asking for Your help. Even on days when I don’t, and I suddenly become aware of my great need of You, help me to come quickly to You. In Jesus name. Amen.
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Video 7.4 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.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Just is an interesting word. I have often heard people use it in prayer to mean, at least or barely, for example, Lord, if you would just help me make it through this day, as if we are afraid to ask for much. Here I believe it means I will be satisfied if only I can be close to You. Is that what you want?
Plea means to make an urgent, even emotional request. What was the content of the last such prayer you cried out God? Was it just to be close to Him? This simple sung prayer is taking us to the woodshed. Jesus, help me make this my plea.
And here it is again: Daily walking close to Thee. Each of the stanzas ends with this simple prayer. Jesus, I want to follow You closely. Is there anything keeping you from praying that prayer, or from truly meaning it?
An appropriate ending to this refrain which concludes each stanza of the hymn. One way to interpret “Amen” is so be it, phrased here as “let it be”. Dear Lord, I want to walk closely with you. Make that your simple prayer right now, all day, and every 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
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Image Attributions
Walk – https://pixabay.com/vectors/footprints-footprint-feet-foot-42972/
Plea – https://pixabay.com/vectors/help-button-red-emergency-support-153094/
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