So Be It

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.

As we close out our walking/talking journey here, the simplicity of this final prayer is striking.  We are pleading for a closer walk with Jesus.  But I wonder if we can even grasp what that may mean.  Let’s think about that.

On the Move

These last two lines focus in on a few key principles that bring some clarity to what it means to walk close to Jesus, with the first being movement.  The image above portrays this well.  It is not so much about a lot of movement, as much as continual.  There is implied in this prayer of daily walking close to Jesus the awareness that there is a journey we are invited to join.

One of the things I have noticed with the passing of the years is a proclivity to move less.  Whether it is because there is some pain in the moving or simply that it takes a little more effort to get going, it is easy to live a sedentary lifestyle.  The same can be said at any age of our spiritual lives.  It is easier to remain stationary.  It requires energy to move.  But the benefits are staggering.

Are you willing to move every day as Jesus moves?  There are two parts to that question.  Are you ready to move, and will you model your moving after Jesus.  It reminds me of Jesus instruction to the disciples, which we must strive to emulate.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”  John 5:19 (ESV)

Ask Jesus to give you that same ability and willingness to identify His movements and mimic them.  Commit to moving every day with Jesus.

Like Jesus

Here is where things get really interesting.  Let’s make it clear.  Jesus taught it this way.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  Luke 9:23 ESV

If we are going to walk closely with Jesus, we will have to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.  This is what it means to follow Him.  No part of this is easy.

• Denying ourselves.  Ouch!  I will not pursue what my natural inclinations would be.  Instead I will pursue the supernatural desires which Jesus introduces me to.  All those things you want, you must lay them aside.  Why?  Because carrying a cross requires you carry nothing else.  Look at the image of Jesus.  He is only carrying His cross.  What must you lay down today to follow Jesus?
• Taking up your cross.  Not Jesus’ cross.  Your cross.  You will likely not be crucified, but you will have some opportunity to learn obedience through suffering like Jesus did.  [Hebrews 5:8] Are you able to identify what your cross may be today?  If so, ask Jesus for the grace to bear it.  If not, ask Him first for the grace to identify it.

Amen

As Jesus reveals to you what you need to lay down and what you need to pick up, be prepared to surrender to them.  “So be it” is the meaning behind this closing line, which is so important the writer encourages us to say it twice. And that is also effectively what the word means we often use to close our prayers, “Amen”.   All that stuff I just prayed Lord, so be it, Amen.

How does the prayer of this final stanza stack up against the things you have been praying about lately?  A quick recap.

• Just let me walk closer to You Jesus
• That is all I am asking
• Daily walking close to You
• Amen

If you were to hear my recent prayers, there might have been some of that, but there are a whole lot of other things.  Mostly for others, but a good bit for me, and not enough of this.

Ask Jesus to help you adjust your talking with Him, so that it reflects a deeper desire to be walking with Him daily.  As you do, prepare to surrender as He reveals what you need to lay down and what you need to take up.  It is not the easy road, but it is the far better one.

Deliberate 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.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, but today 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 lots of options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures shared.

Image Attributions
Daily Walking – https://pixabay.com/photos/movement-run-go-walk-autumn-536650/
Close to Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-cross-cross-carry-1248835/
Let It Be – https://pixabay.com/photos/amen-message-notice-letters-1510175/