Holy Spirit, Joy divine,
Cheer this saddened heart of mine;
Bid my many woes depart;
Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

Holy Spirit, Light Divine (1817)

By: Andrew Reed, (1787-1862)

Listen to this karaoke version as you prepare to ponder this old hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally 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 options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

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 began our journey of resonance toward Pentecost with this lessor known hymn last week. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus Christ.  Like them, He cheers us to live a joy-filled life. Let’s think about this.

Not Knowing What to Pray For

Now sometimes we know what to pray for. Comfort for a friend who is grieving a loss. Strength for a family member who is facing dilemma. Peace for ourselves in the midst of a storm, sometimes of our own making.

But sometimes, I would suggest oftentimes, we do not know what to pray for. We often pray for a change in the symptoms of a problem, when we should be trying to discern and cry out for the infirmity or cause. It’s like praying your boat won’t sink, instead of praying for the storm to cease. Jesus always knew what to pray for.

And so does the Holy Spirit.

Bid my many woes depart;

The line before asks Him to cheer saddened hearts. That is a good prayer. This line asks Him to remove the cause of the sadness. Bid the woes depart, the many woes, that are causing my heart to be sad.

We don’t have to know what to pray for. We can ask the Spirit to do it for us. Our part, asking Him for the help. His part, being that help.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 ESV

We are weak and frail and sometimes so much so that we do not even know what to pray for.  Our griefs and woes leave us speechless before our gracious Lord. Even then the Spirit works to send those woes packing.  That cheers our hearts and creates an environment for joy to take root. We are responsible to cultivate that sprout, by regularly asking Him to pray for us, effectively removing the weeds of woe that would otherwise choke the life from our joy.

Will you welcome Him to do that work for which He is uniquely equipped?

RESONATE!
Looking to the Spirit to speak to our woes, as opposed to speaking to them ourselves, makes a lot of sense. Often we do not have much authority to make them depart, but He always does. Even when He does not immediately answer this prayer, turning it over to Him helps. Try it now. Ask Him to bid your woes depart.

Seeing the Progression that Leads to Healed Hearts

There is an interesting progression in this stanza that is easy to overlook since each line is strong enough to stand alone. It is really beautiful when you see it. Think about it for just a few moments.

1. We acknowledge the Spirit is the joy of God. That creates a standard we can measure our countenance against, and when we do, we will often find ourselves lacking, or falling short, of our inheritance. So we determine to do something about it.
2. We respond by asking the Spirit to cheer our hearts, which when set against the reality of His joy are clearly sad. As He does this work, we realize there are woes, or causes of our sadness, which are deeper than we first recognized.  This leads us to a franker, more honest prayer.
3. We ask Him to tell our woes to depart, to leave us. We may not even understand the real cause of some of them, but we ask not simply to be cheered, but delivered, from them entirely. As He does that gracious work, we begin to see there is one final prayer we must pray.
4. We ask for healing. As the Spirit delivers us from the cause of our woes, we come to find that they have left wounds, and often, we are still bleeding even after they have gone. We invite the Spirit to heal our hearts.

And He does it all.

Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 ESV

What has broken your heart? What has caused you wounds? Maybe you are still bleeding. Have you brought those woes to the Spirit and asked Him to heal your heart? If not, do so right now. List them off and ask for His healing.

Seriously. If anything came to mind you have not brought to Him, don’t put it off. Stop and do it right now.

If you already have, and nothing new is coming to mind, thank Him again for the healing He has brought and will continue to bring.

RESONATE!
Thank the Holy Spirit for His work of joy in your wounded heart. You have faced many woes, and there may even be some places you are still bleeding, but you can trust He is able to heal them. Ask Him to remind you to bring all your sadness to Him without hesitation.

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.

Image Attributions
Many Woes – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/sad-cry-tear-emotion-mood-face-1533965/
Wounded, Bleeding Heart – https://pixabay.com/photos/broken-heart-heart-bleeding-heart-2318143/

Holy Spirit, Pow’r divine,
Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;
In Thy mercy pity me,
From sin’s bondage set me free.

Holy Spirit, Light Divine (1817)

By: Andrew Reed, (1787-1862)

Listen to this karaoke version as you prepare to ponder this old hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally 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 options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

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 began our journey of resonance toward Pentecost with this lessor known hymn last week. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus Christ.  Like them, He empowers us to live a guilt-free life. Let’s think about this.

The “Man”, and the Best Samaritan

The image above evokes the sense of pity for the need of the one being carried. If you are familiar with the parable of The Good Samaritan, it probably conjures recollections of Jesus’ teaching on loving our neighbors, that is anyone who has a need. [Luke 10:25-37] Jesus teaches that we should show mercy, by affirming the actions of the Samaritan.

When you see that image, when you think of that image, in what role do you normally see yourself. Obviously, the context of Jesus teaching asks us to continually consider what kind of neighbor we are being, so your inclination may be to see yourself as the Samaritan, ever hoping to aspire to the example Jesus set forth in this teaching about the “Good” Samaritan. The concept is so prevalent that this term is used, even among people who have no idea this way of living, to which many aspire was taught by our Lord.

For today’s purposes though I to ask you to see yourself as a different character in the story. I want you see yourself as the one being carried, in Luke he is simply referred to as “a man”, though the other characters have recognizable stations in life. This generalization hopefully allows you to see yourself as simply one in need of help or mercy.

You have no greater need than to be delivered from the consequences of sin, immediate and ultimate. There is no better “Samaritan” than our Lord. The unnamed figure in the story was accosted by robbers, and I would argue your sin has left you feeling the same way at some point. Defenseless, beaten, robbed, and left for dead.

In Thy mercy pity me,

I have often wondered if the victim in the parable had brought this on themself in some way. I have likewise wondered if they were even able to ask for help. But it is little consequence really, because the result is a helpless scenario where one capable of showing mercy intervenes.

So I wonder what has assaulted you? What sin has come and overwhelmed you? Beaten and robbed you? Left you for dead? Whether it was yours or someone else’s, Jesus pitied you before you could even ask. Asking in this context simply appropriates the mercy already available.

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 ESV

RESONATE!
The power of the Holy Spirit is ready to help you anytime you ask. Where do you need His pity, His sorrow over your misfortune? Ask Him to search you and reveal any areas where you might not even realize you need it, and then as He does confess them. He desires to wash and renew you. Marvel in that mercy again today. Take some time to let Him do that in you today.

The Robbers

There is one more character I would like you to consider today. The robbers. Those terrible people who came and committed the beating and robbing of our unnamed traveler. We do not normally give them much thought.

Imagine for a moment what they deserve. Certainly punishment of some kind. Had they been caught at the time Jesus told the story, that punishment would likely have been far worse than today. But let us just consider their punishment in our context. Probably jail, until trial. Once convicted possibly prison for theft, and attempted manslaughter. I mean these are horrible people, right?

They deserve to pay for the wrongs they had done. They possibly would have been shackled with the consequences of their actions for quite some time. And that would be just.

But imagine for a moment, the unnamed character showing up at the sentencing and pleading for mercy. Having received mercy himself from the Samaritan, it changed his life and he asks the charges be dropped, and the punishment reduced to time served. It would be a shocking turn of events, right? And unmerited demonstration of mercy.

Kind of like what you have received from the Best Samaritan.

From sin’s bondage set me free.

Yes, that’s right. You are one of the robbers. But you already knew that, even if you have never admitted it. You have been set free from far more than any court of law could sentence you.  You are free from the punishment of the law of sin and death.  Thanks be to the Spirit of life.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 ESV

RESONATE!
You have been set free, so walk in that freedom. You were a robber, but now you are a child of God.  All thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Ask Him to help you live in the power of that miracle every moment of every day. Then give Him thanks that doing so is available as you simply yield your life to Him.

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.

Image Attributions
Pity Me – https://pixabay.com/photos/window-church-window-3616886/
Sin’s Bondage – https://pixabay.com/photos/hand-faust-violent-ward-victory-749676/

Holy Spirit, light divine,
Shine upon this heart of mine.
Chase the shades of night away,
Turn the darkness into day.

Holy Spirit, Light Divine (1817)

By: Andrew Reed, (1787-1862)

Listen to this karaoke version as you prepare to ponder this old hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally 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 options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

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 began our journey of resonance toward Pentecost with this lessor known hymn this week. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus Christ.  He chases the shades of night away and turns darkness into day. Let’s think about this.

Shadows Flee

Chase the shades of night away,

Darkness is real. Sometimes it is so real it is as if you can feel it. Sometimes it is much more nebulous, barely recognizable as such.

But be it insidious or innocuous, it can not resist the light. I love that illustration that says all you have to do is turn a light on in a dark room and darkness has to flee. It has no choice.

The issue then is really only whether we want to be filled with light or dark. We are familiar with both, and all of us as followers of Christ have the light to exile the dark. Christ has faithfully given us His Holy Spirit to establish us and guard us against the evil one.  He by no means expects us to do it on our own.

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

We face darkness of many kinds, but generally, it comes from one of three sources: the world, the flesh, or the devil. To deal with these shadows, and deal with them me must for there is truly no avoiding them altogether, we must look to the light and let God establish and guard us against the schemes of the evil one. Our Lord is faithful and will do it.

Are you familiar with what those shadows are for you? The influences that cast darkness over you life, some you invite and others which encroach without any invitation. If you have tried to battle them on your own, you have no doubt learned how formidable those forces can be, much more daunting than a mere shadow. We need the light of the Holy Spirit to chase them away, so we must cultivate the ability to live in His presence which brings a lingering brightness to our minds that empowers us to combat them.

RESONATE!
The simple prayer of this hymn must be one with which we become very familiar. The Spirit is the light that can chase those shades of night away, but we must ask Him. Welcome Him regularly, but start again today. Ask Him to shine upon your heart right now and reveal any shadows present so you can partner with Him to see them flee. Then tomorrow, do it again. When this is your habit, those shadows that once loomed large will slowly lose their sway over you, to the glory of God!

Darkness Lightens

Turn the darkness into day.

I like that saying, “It is always darkest before the dawn.” Seems like it could be a real downer if you focus on the darkness, but I choose to see the end, the dawn. Scripture tells us this is what our God does.  Psalm 139:12 tells us even the darkness is as light to Him so He can actually turn darkness into day.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is probably the greatest example of this in history.

Some versions of this hymn say “Turn my darkness into day.” That resonates with me. I know I have a new nature in Christ, but I struggle at times with the residue of my old nature resident in my flesh. He has begun to turn my darkness into day, and the resurrection gives me the hope that one day that process will be complete.

The One who is working out that process in my experience of the Christ life is the Holy Spirit.  He is the abiding presence of God, His seal of our redemption, the promise of our transformation.  He wants to turn our night into day.  

For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. 2 Samuel 22:29ESV

Have you ever used a lamp in the woods?  In a room, a lamp may light up the entire room, even if only a little at the edges.  In the forest at night, there is still plenty of darkness beyond the influence of the lamp.  Still near the lamp things are quite bright, and it can provide a very clear path even through the darkest of woods.

A similar thing can be said spiritually.  The Holy Spirit may not deal with all the darkness in one moment, but He lightens it.  What you need to deal with immediately around you can be seen clearly, as long as you stay near that lamp.

RESONATE!
We do not overcome the darkness by focusing on it, but rather by focusing on God.  As we welcome the light of His Holy Spirit, even our darkest moments, especially the darkest, are flooded with His light.  Do it today and every day. Pray for God to lighten your darkness as you draw near the lamp of His presence.

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.

Image Attributions
Chase the Shades of Night Away – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-love-romance-romantic-3124330/
Turn My Darkness into Day – https://pixabay.com/photos/silhouette-sunset-dawn-red-sky-4853010/

Crown Him the Lord of heav’n!
One with the Father known,
One with the Spirit through Him giv’n
From yonder glorious throne,
To Thee be endless praise,
For Thou for us hast died;
Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days
Adored and magnified.

Crown Him with Many Crowns (1852)

By: Matthew Bridges, v. 3 by Godfrey Thring, pub.1874

Listen to this modern arrangement as you prepare to ponder this old hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally 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 options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

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 conclude our journey of resonance through this great hymn today. In the first half of this stanza, we considered how Jesus was one with the Father and Spirit as the Lord of heaven.  In this second half, we ponder our response to that eternal reality. Let’s think about this.

Endless Praise

To Thee be endless praise, For Thou for us hast died;

Our endless praise is the only appropriate response to what Jesus has done.  Though the perfect Son of God, He laid down His life to become the sacrifice for our sins, the only thing that could satisfy the just demand of a holy Father. Indeed, forever will not be long enough to offer the worship that is due Him for His death on that cross.

Still, we are not the first to offer this eternal exaltation around the heavenly throne.  In Revelation 5, we read of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders responding first to this Lamb who appears before the throne. They declare Him worthy and tell how His work has ransomed people from every tongue and made us a kingdom of priests who will reign. But the song is only beginning.

Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, that is how John describes the angels that get in on the action and offer this call to worship.

 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
  and honor and glory and blessing!”  Revelation 5:12 ESV

Thousands of thousands.  One thousand thousand would be a million, so thousands of thousands would be millions.  The exact number is not really the point.  Simply put, that’s a lot of angels.  But did you notice how they sounded? With a loud voice.  They were together, unified as one voice declaring that praise.  

Words can not describe their number, so they certainly can not represent the power of that moment of heavenly acclamation. They were praising Him for salvation, but not their own.  That honor rests upon the redeemed, His blood-bought people.

Our salvation both makes offering praise possible and enables it. It is all the angels who are quoted here in John’s vision of heaven. There is truly endless praise, having begun at the dawn of creation and continuing forever. They praise Him who was slain for the sins of the world. Do you long to join them in praising the Lord of heaven?

We praise him eternally for dying for our sins.  We could and will praise Him for so much more across the span of forever, but our salvation is the foundation that allows us to offer our first praise and enables an eternity of the same.  Give Him praise now, and forever!

RESONATE!
It is very difficult for us to even begin to imagine what that endless praise will sound like. As a musician, I love to think about how glorious that praise will be. Take a minute, read that verse again, and ask the Spirit to sanctify your imagination.  As the story unfolds, this will be the praise that precedes ours around the throne.  Prepare yourself to respond today by pondering what those inspiring moments will be like. 

Endless Days

If the angels’ praise is difficult to imagine, contemplate how difficult it is for us to conceive eternity.  Not only is the sound of their salutations virtually unfathomable, so is the length.  We will begin to praise Him, and simply never stop.

Be Thou, O Lord, through endless days Adored and magnified.

I have joked with folks over the years that they should sing in choirs because it gives them some practical experience for how we will spend a portion of forever. While I think we will engage in other activities besides just singing, I am confident we will lift our voices in praise. So, how are you getting ready?

We are going to spend some portion of our endless days offering endless praise.  I want to encourage you to get into good form now, not only because I think it will prepare you a bit for an eternity of adoration, but even more so because it will change your outlook now.

We will magnify Jesus as the Lord of heaven, but we do not have to wait.  We can offer the material for our commendation to Him today.  Your endless days can start today, if you are willing.

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13 ESV

And join them we shall, every creature. Here is the material for our song. Do not wait until the end of days to offer your worship. Praise Him today, and then never stop.  That is the blessing of living eternally, we will adore and magnify Jesus for endless days. Hallelujah! Think on that.

RESONATE!
Yes we will add to the angels’ song with one of our own.  Notice the Scripture tells us we will “say” these words.  You can start your praise today by simply saying them to Jesus from your heart.  Read them again. Then say them out loud.  Do it again, and imagine you are joining your voice with every creature. You are not alone. Not even now. And you certainly will not be on that day. 

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.

Image Attributions
Thou For Us Hast Died – https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/why-did-jesus-have-to-die
Adored and Magnified – https://adoringgod.org/2019/01/07/the-infinite-power-behind-gods-providential-care/

Crown Him the Lord of love!
Behold His hands and side—
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends His wond’ring eye
At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him with Many Crowns (1852)

By: Matthew Bridges, v. 3 by Godfrey Thring, pub.1874

Listen to this modern arrangement as you prepare to ponder this old hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally 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 options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

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 continue our journey crowning Jesus the Lord of love. In the first half of this stanza, we considered the fact that Jesus still bears the wounds from the crucifixion.  In this second half, we ponder the weight of that glorious mystery which causes all the angels to bend their eyes downward.

Angels Overwhelmed

No angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight,

Scriptures seems to indicate there are a few distinctions among angels.  In Isaiah 6 we find the seraphim.  Ezekiel 10 describes the cherubim. I Thessalonians 4 foretells the call of the archangel. And then of course you have your ordinary angels which are most often referenced like here.

I heard…the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…” Revelation 5:11-12a ESV

Though our words say “No angel” and most often this would evoke the idea that not one of the angels could bear the sight, it is interesting to also consider the fact that no kinds or types of angels could.  Though not even the most important thought it remains an interesting one.

All that said, so great is the sight that no angel can fully bear it.  Like the image above, maybe they covered their eyes with their hands, or the seraphim from Isaiah 6, on set of wings, or simply looked down, none of them could fully bear the sight.

What sight? The sight of the Lamb that was slain.  Jesus still bearing the wounds He took to purchase our redemption.  That is a truly remarkable thought. It fills the angels with wonder.  They existed eternally in the glory of God, but could not even take in the this mystery.

RESONATE!
If these heavenly beings can not take in this sight, imagine what our reaction will be like. We will have just arrived at our glorious eternal home and we set our eyes on the One who died to declare His love for us. Though there are times when that love amazes us now, that will certainly be true when we finally see Him face-to-face.  How do you imagine you will respond in that moment? Take a minute to ponder that heavenly seen and how you might respond.

Mysteries Bright

They is no doubt what the mystery is.  It is the display of love that our Savior will bear eternally.  The mystery is simply that He would love us that much.

But downward bends His wond’ring eye At mysteries so bright.

Bright mysteries. Seems like a contradiction as mysteries tend to be shrouded in darkness and mist, but not so with these wounds.  Angels bend their eyes downward in wonder, and we may as well, but all the same we look forward to crowning Him the Lord of love eternally with heartfelt praise.

That nail-scarred hand.  What an incredible symbol of love! I like this image because it acknowledges the pain, but fills it with the brightness of His glory and helps me to understand in a miniscule way the wonder of the angels.

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Isaiah 6:2 ESV

RESONATE!
So what ideas come to mind as you imagine the flight of the seraphim? Does the thought of it fill you with wonder? Take a few moments and consider what leaves the angels looking down, and ask Him to fill you with wonder.  Then approach the Lord of love with wonder as often as His scars come to mind throughout this day.

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.

Image Attributions
No Angel…Can Fully Bear that Sight – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/258253359870905142/
Mysteries So Bright – https://www.freeimages.com/search/nail-scarred-hand