When my feeble life is o’er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee By: Anonymous
Listen as you read. This is a really nice gospel instrumental version.
As we established in our Tunings on Tuesday (find it here), we all have an expiration date, yet will also live on beyond time as we know it. When all these moments end, and the rest of eternity begins, we will be just as secure in God’s care as we are today. Let’s think about this.
Guide Me
Having acknowledged out weakness and our mortality, we now turn our attention to God’s direction and sovereignty. We begin with the simple prayer for Him to guide us. This is important because it allows us to admit our need for His help in this most crucial moment, the one when we step beyond time.
Jesus promised in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for us and would return to take us to be with Him. Thomas spoke what all the disciples where probably thinking.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” John 14:5 ESV
Jesus answered the question with one of the most profound and powerful phrases in Scripture.
“I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6 ESV
Jesus is the Way to the Father, and He faithfully leads us through every step of our journey, including that last leg that brings us to our eternal home. Our need for Jesus to guide us will possibly more evident in those moments that every before, but it is no less real for every other moment we will live until then. Prepare yourself to rest in His guiding influence then by practicing it now.
Ask Jesus to teach you how to walk His Way, so you may know the Truth and in it find real life. Then keep your mind open for opportunities to practice it today. They will most assuredly come.
Gently, Safely O’er
Gently, Safely O’er
Let’s begin to develop our understanding of the end of this life and the beginning of the next as another part of our great journey with Jesus. He is our Captain. Imagine you are on a ship. As the sun sets on your life as you know it, like in this image, you will have the opportunity to trust Jesus to guide you through the coming night to a brighter day.
We can face death, which can threaten to swallow us up in its darkness, with a confidence that the One who is Life can lead us through it gently, and safely. Though we do not know exactly what to expect, we can trust that the One who led us the rest of the Way will lead us then as well into the Truth of all He has promised us.
Think of some of the things Jesus has led you safely through. Remember how gentle He was with you, even though the circumstances seemed to want to tear you apart. Decide you can and will trust Him to lead you to the very end of your journey.
To Thy Kingdom Shore
Our destination. The shores of His Heavenly Kingdom. What a beautiful image to create for people well aware they are on a journey! On the other side of the ocean of life is a certain harbor or haven.
I am reminded again of some words shared at my dad’s funeral service. A woman I did not know stood and read poem. It was powerful and gave symbolic expression to exactly what I believe had happened for my father. These are those words, from the poem entitled “Gone from my Sight”.
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze,
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch her until she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!”
Gone where? Gone from my sight – that is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side,
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, and not in her.
To Thy Kingdom Shore
And just at the moment
when someone at my side says: “There! She’s gone!”
there are other eyes that are watching for her coming;
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:
“There she comes!”
What a powerful illustration! This picture captures some sense of that. Jesus led my dad, gently, safely over to that kingdom shore. Jesus will lead each of us gently, safely over to that same shore.
Are you trusting Jesus for that last final part of your journey? Is there anything that is keeping you from trusting Him completely? Tell Jesus you will trust Him to lead you all the way to His Kingdom shore.
To Thy Shore
To Thy Shore
So have you even imagined what your arrival there will be like? Who will greet you? What you will see? When we arrive there we will be just as real and alive as we are now, and so will that place be as the place where you are reading this.
This idea of a shore is helpful because it makes a place that seems almost too good to be true just a bit easier to fathom, though I am certain in its grandeur it is truly unfathomable. I have remarked for years that if God made all we see in 6 days, but it has taken Jesus 2,000 years to “prepare a place for” us, then how much better must that place be than even the grandest vistas this creation affords. Even if shores are not your favorite places to find rest and rejuvenate, I am certain you will love that one.
Jesus, thank You for the confidence Your care in the past gives us as we face otherwise uncertain futures, including our own demise, of the demise of those we love. Teach us to trust Your guidance, knowing it is gentle and safe, like You. Take us at the end of our days to that Kingdom shore. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Careful Thinking!
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Podcast 7.3 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.
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
There will be an end to this life. The songwriter says feeble, the Scripture says perishable and mortal, all three make clear it will not last forever. Though painful, this is an important reality to acknowledge because it forces us to deal with our mortality. Thank Jesus for the courage to face death.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Time versus eternity. We are so constrained to the construct of time that it is difficult for us to even fathom what eternity is. He put it in our hearts, yet we still can not truly understand it. Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of forever.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can separate us from His love, not even death. That hope gives us the courage to trust that He will gently, safely take us to our eternal home with Him. Give Him praise!
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
An eternal kingdom awaits us. Like the passengers on a ship, our Captain will get us to our final destination, no matter what storms may come.. We will arrive there safely as certainly as we can leave here peacefully. Thank the Father for all that awaits us beyond this life.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
When my feeble life is o’er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears, But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night. I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care, And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.
Just a Little Talk with Jesus By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)
Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.
On Tuesday we continued our walking and talking journey with Jesus by remembering how He is our friend always watching over us. And that is a good thing because we face many challenges and difficulties. We can take it all to Him though; but we often fail to do so. Why do you think that is? Let’s think about this.
Go to Him
We have access through our faith in Christ to the throne of mercy. Any time we want to we can lift our gaze from the darkness of this weary world and find that light from heaven which is ever-ready to flood our souls. Unfortunately, we just fail to look up. Ever wonder why?
I think there are a number of reasons. I wonder which of these you may have used, maybe even as recently as today. Here are a few, with some thoughts.
“I don’t want bother Him with this.” As if anything is too small.
“He may not answer.” He always answers, just rarely when or how we wish He would.
“I can probably handle this.” Maybe, but it would be better to trust God and watch for His provision.
“I am not sure what to say.” Just talk to Him and listen to what He is saying to you. Don’t complicate this.
“_____ _____ _____ ___ _____.” Are you mindful of your most common reason for failing to pray?
“I am not really convinced He cares.” Of course He does, that is why He tells us to bring everything to Him.
This last one may be the real reason most of us pray less than we could. Not sure you have been commanded to bring everything to Jesus in prayer? Consider this Scripture.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6ESV
Plain and simple. What should we bring? Everything. How? Prayer. To whom? God.
Cares
He Knows My Every Care
Does He really?
Did you notice that last phrase of the verse? “Let your requests be made known to God.” (emphasis mine) What do you think that means?
Most English translations use some version of that wording implying, it seems, that God does not know your requests. That is not what the verse means. Rather, it is another command, this one having to do with the practice of simply presenting these requests to God.
Think of it this way.
Often parents are able to anticipate their children’s needs. Why? Because we love them and we know what is best for them. Sometimes they ask for those things. Sometimes they ask for other things. As parents, sometimes we want to hear their heart expressed. We occasionally even have the answer behind our back in our hand, but we just want to hear and see that longing expressed in making the request known.
In many ways that is also true of God, only His expression of it is perfect! I wonder what He has behind His back for you, waiting for you to ask. Some relief? Some blessing?
Against that backdrop, it truly is a mystery why we do not take more things to Jesus more often. Child are not afraid to ask. Somehow that is a behavior we have learned. How unfortunate.
Just a Little Talk
Talk with Jesus
It is unfortunate because of the impact on us and our situations when we have a little talk with Jesus. When you think of that, what kind of communication comes to mind? A text. A call. A face-to-face. Each have their place and accomplish certain things.
Texting is truly best for communicating simple bits of information. It obviously lacks the emotional component, which no emoji can make up for. When you need an answer to a complex question, this is probably not the best choice. It does however accomplish what it was designed to do.
You: Are you coming to the prayer meeting tonight?
Jesus: Yes, I will be there. 😉
Calling allows you to pick up on the emotion of the other communicant and exchange more commentary than the bare facts. Still you can not see the person, unless you are FaceTiming them. Yes, I believe that is actually a word now. Even then there are other cues that are harder to pick up on unless you are in person.
A face-to-face encounter is the best because you can read the person’s body language in conjunction with what they are saying. If there are inconsistencies they are easier to identify. There is much more connection when you can look someone in the eye, for it is like looking into their soul.
I use this imagery to help you think about your interactions with Jesus. Which of these three characterizes your communication with Him? Is it more bits and pieces, but impersonal? Does it have some genuine interaction going back and forth? Or is it deep and intimate?
Wherever it is in that continuum you can change it. How?
Have a little talk with Jesus. Have several. And keep having them. They will make all the difference!
Jesus, thank You that I can talk with You. My talks with You really make a difference and so I want to do it more. Help me to develop from wherever it is to a deeper level. I find great comfort on the fact that You know every care, but I want to present my requests with greater consistency. Help me please. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Practical Thinking!
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Subscribers enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!
Podcast 8.2 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.
I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Here is a stark and honest description of the weight our souls feel at times, pain within, unbelief without. This is likely not your constant condition, but like the Psalmist and our song writer we all have seasons when we feel this way. Thank God that He and His word acknowledge that.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Take comfort in the fact that though you may cry yourself to sleep in the midst of your torment on the nights you can even get to sleep, the Lord never slumbers, so vigilant is He in His care for you. Indeed, Jesus watches over you day and night.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
We have been commanded to bring all of our cares to Him, yet at times we fail to do so, choosing instead to try to work things out ourselves. How foolish, not to mention disobedient? Jesus cares for you and wants you to talk to Him about everything. What do you need to talk with Him about today?
And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Anxiety appears again in this verse which adds a command to not be anxious to the one to pray. We needlessly carry anxiety. Jesus gladly takes it. Keep nothing back. Give Jesus all your cares and leave yourself with nothing to be anxious about today. Go ahead, do it right now.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears, But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night. I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care, And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Thro’ this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee By: Anonymous
Listen as you read. This is a great gospel guitar version.
As we established in our Tunings on Tuesday (find it here), God cares for us, even when no-one else seems to. Who can question this, especially when we are the source of the faltering, but even then the Lord cares for us. Let’s think about this.
Toils and Snares
Immediately I think of the similar line from Amazing Grace which speaks about “dangers, toils and snares”. We examined these challenges earlier this year in both a Tunings and a Thoughts. You can find them at those links.
For our purposes here I want to look at this a little differently. Or rather I want to look at one aspect we considered in the aforementioned Tunings a little deeper. That aspect is the reality that all the things that tempt me to wander away from the Lord come from one of three sources.
The World
The Flesh
The Devil
Within that context we acknowledge the toils and snares I face, whether of my own design or someone else’s, are sometimes avoidable and always able to be overcome.
Avoidable
Some of the toil we face is actually our own design. Take the poor sap in the image above. I imagine he feels like he needs to turn that gear, either out of some obligation to someone else, because it is his duty, or maybe for no good reason. I also have to imagine that he probably resents it at some level because it appears futile. There is no end in sight and no apparent benefit to all the work.
Resistible
I think I made up that word. You get what I mean by it, right? Though things sometimes seem irresistible, or unable to be resisted, nothing is truly irresistible. That means everything is “resistible” or capable of being resisted.
Snare
It is possible to resist, but it is certainly not easy. Say your are hungry and you come across a lovely piece of cheese laid out there for the taking. Seems simple enough, grab it and go. You reach out to take it and SNAP!, you are caught, if not broken it two.
Obviously, someone set that trap, and it must had been alluring. But it was also avoidable and resistible. I could have chosen to walk away. Alas, there may very well be another one around the corner. Unfortunately, it seems I can not escape them all, even with the utmost exercise of determination.
Now it is just painful. And snares normally are that, as well as dangerous. I mean look at that poor finger. It is turning purple and blue. My soul has turned purple and blue, and yours has too, even as you writhed to escape the snare. Remember that feeling? It is an awful feeling. And it is compounded by the fact that it was all avoidable and resistible were it not for the world, the flesh and the Devil, particularly our flesh.
The world and the Devil usher in no shortage of toils and snares, but if were not for my flesh, they would be avoidable and resistible. My flesh is the weak link here. If we were on our own to face this predicament it would be pretty depressing. But fortunately we are not. More on that in a moment.
If I Falter
Though the writer uses the the word “if” here to describe the possibility of my faltering, I know that a more accurate choice would have been to use not “if” but “when” to describe the certainty of my faltering. Unless we learn to identify and then avoid or resist the toils and snares, we will end up in a lot of trouble and no shortage of pain. Take heart there is some help available on that front. More on that in a moment.
Falter
What makes our faltering even worse is that not only do we already feel foolish for not seeing the traps beforehand, but we sometimes find that others are scoffing at our failure to do so. Adding insult to injury as the old adage goes, they not only failure to care to address the injury but do not mind adding insult to the pain.
You probably are very familiar with the emotion associated with the question asked here. “If I falter, Lord, who cares?” Think of a time when you were painfully aware of that feeling. That awareness creates a backdrop for your gratitude to blossom when you realize that even though there will be moments when no one else cares the Lord always does. More on that in a moment.
We all falter, and truthfully far more often than we would like to admit. But when we do, thankfully God does not join in the finger-pointing but rather reaches out a hand to help us. That hand looks different based on the help the Lord is providing.
Sometimes it is a hand of compassion when we are hurting. Sometimes it is a hand of correction when we have done wrong. Sometimes a hand of direction when we have lost our way. Always it is a hand of caring. Unmistakeable caring.
Lord You Care
Lord You Care
We are often like little children who have simply lost our way in a dark and dangerous world. Sometimes we are willful in our stumbling and bumbling, but children are too. Fortunately for us, Jesus cares and is willing to meet us wherever we are, if we will simply reach out to Him.
This is a very powerful image. It illustrates for us our predicament and Jesus’ solution. He cares so He steps in our darkness and guides us toward the light. His care in and of itself is a huge part that changes the situation, even before we go very far, just knowing He is with us and for us.
We are all tempted at times to honestly ask the question, “Lord who cares?” But we must also be willing to be equally honest and confess the Lord has said He does over and over again, not to mention the many ways He has also demonstrated that in our lives. Take this Scripture for instance.
Though the Lord is high above all, he cares for the lowly. Though he is in heaven above, he sees them on earth below. Psalm 138:6 (NIRV)
Many times I have experienced the power of this promise. Even when the cause of what drove me to the low place was of my own design, Jesus still saw me and cared for me. He sees you too.
And how about this expression of His care.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
He is near to us and He saves us. Who can find a better expression of His care? Use the podcast below, available to everyone today, to spend a few more minutes thinking about this powerful truth and allowing it to resonate in your mind, even as you work to remove the things that might otherwise dampen it.
Jesus, thank You for Your consistent care, even in the face of my consistent faltering. Teach me anew today that I can rest in your care for me. Help me to acknowledge Your many expressions of it, so I may find my mind overwhelmed by the cacophony of care You sound into my life each day. Make me resonant! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Careful Thinking!
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EVERYONE enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!
Podcast 7.2 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.
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me.
Whether toil I choose to engage in, or snares others lay to catch me, this is a troublesome world. There are dangers all around and we must be diligent to stay out of them. Ask Jesus to help you identify toils and snares and then help you to avoid them whenever you can.
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Psalm 138:6 (NIRV) Though the Lord is high above all, he cares for the lowly, Though he is in heaven above, he sees them on the earth below.
The Lord cares for us, even when no else seems to. Though He is high He is not far off, but near. His perspective allows Him to see us and enables Him to act in a way that demonstrates His care. Thank Jesus for caring for you, even at the times you did not know it.
Who with me my burden shares?
Psalm 55:22(ESV) Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
What burdens have you weighed down today? Will you cast them on the Lord? Maybe you are weary of trying to sustain yourself. Use that energy instead to actively give your concerns to God so you can know His sustaining power. Ask Him to help you do that routinely.
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Matthew 11:28-30(ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
What a gracious invitation, which at the same time is a beautiful reminder that the Lord cares for us. If you want rest from your toils and snares, someone to faithfully share your burdens, then come and take a closer walk with Jesus. Ask Him to help you stay one step behind Him.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
Thro’ this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but 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.
I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in And then a little light from heaven filled my soul He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole
Just a Little Talk with Jesus By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)
Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.
On Tuesday we continued our walking and talking journey with Jesus by remembering how He took us in and filled our souls with light when we were lost in sin. It is so easy to move past that conversation with Jesus and forget how significant it was, but that talk leads to other ones. Let’s think about this.
Bathed in Love
God took the initiative in our redemption, and we responded. He continues to take initiative and we continue to respond, or at least we should. Jesus is always reaching out to us. He wants to talk with us because He knows that a little talk with Him makes us whole.
When He took us in, He granted us access to the throne of grace. He bathed our hearts in love so we would have confidence to approach Him whenever we have a need. And we have need of Him always.
Think of a time when you called out to Jesus. Often we cry out in desperation, sometimes because we have tried every other remedy and nothing else worked. As a last resort we turn to Jesus.
What a difference it would make if we would instead choose to talk to Jesus first. Unfortunately, we tend to talk to ourselves, or others before we go to the One who has the remedy. Little talks with Jesus are exactly what we need, and precisely what He has offered to us. His love ensures us that He is for us. So let’s avail ourselves of that access and learn the blessing of talking to Jesus all the time.
Wrote My Name Above
What better expression of love could there be than having our names written in the Lamb’s book of life? We have that access because we have been accepted on the merit of Christ. The effect of Jesus taking us in, filling our souls with light, and bathing our hearts in love is that we are pardoned.
Wrote My Name Above
When was the last time you thought about this reality, that your name has been written in the book of life? When was the last time you talked to Jesus about that? Why not talk to Him right now?
Tell Him how if makes you feel to know you have been pardoned of all your sins and have an eternal home with Jesus. Tell Him what you think about when you try to imagine what that existence will be like, forever in His presence. Ask Him to help you spend little more time thinking about that, and a little less time thinking about all the things that normally consume your mental processes.
Hopefully that little talk just now oriented you a little differently toward all the things you are facing today. Hopefully that little talk ushered in an awareness of the wholeness that is your eternal inheritance, beginning that moment you had that first little talk with Jesus. Can you recall that?
Made Whole
Little Talk with Jesus
On Tuesday in the video log I rehearsed a bit of what that first conversation felt like for me. If you missed it, and the moments of guided reflection with it, Subscribers and Free Members can see it here, and everyone else can read the transcript below the video. Jesus met me there like the young man in this image. He made Himself accessible and I have never been the same.
I am absolutely still a work in progress, but He made me whole. In other words, I am still working out my experiential understanding of what took place in the first little talk with Jesus. I often say I am not what I once was, nor am I yet what I will be. Little talks with Jesus are a huge part of this ongoing transformation.
Have a little talk with Jesus today. Have several. And keep having them. They will make you whole!
Jesus, thank You that I can talk with You. Help me to make that my first resort, as opposed to some version of my last resort, until my initial inclination is to talk with you about everything. Thank You bathing my soul in love. May the knowledge that my name is written in the book of life cause it to happen again today, even as it is expressed daily in the wholeness that it makes mine In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Transformative Thinking!
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Below is content only available only to Subscribers. Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here. Or check out some 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!!
Subscribers enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!
Podcast 8.1 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.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Every one of us was separated from God because of our sin, and we did not even know it until the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to God’s love, and our need for it. Are you thankful Jesus took you in? Tell Him.
And then a little light from heaven filled my soul
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
We were stumbling around lost in the darkness of sin when the light of heaven filled our souls. Now we can walk in His light because He has cleansed us from sin. Ask Him to help you walk in that light today.
He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Not only do we get to walk in the light today, but every day for the rest of eternity because He wrote our names in the book of life. Because Jesus took us in, we are judged according to what He has done. Give Him praise.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We were able to approach the throne of grace with confidence that first time, and every subsequent time, because Jesus has given us access. Keep talking to Jesus every time you need mercy and grace. Tell Him your need today?
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.
I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in And then a little light from heaven filled my soul He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee By: Anonymous
Listen as you read. This is a great old dixie jazz version. Don’t be startled when it picks up around 2:49.
On Tuesday we began our walking and talking journey with Jesus by acknowledging our weakness and His strength. We need that strength to be kept from all wrong. We find it when we walk closely with Him, which also happens to be the place where we learn to be satisfied. Let’s think about this.
Satisfied
We tend to get ourselves in trouble when we seek to be satisfied first, instead of seeking first to be close to Jesus. That pursuit of satisfaction reveals our weakness by taking us down paths that lead to wrong. When we choose from that same place of weakness to instead look to Jesus for the strength to do right satisfaction floods our minds and hearts.
Satisfied
So where are you looking for satisfaction, or where are tempted to look for it? It seems our traveler here has made the choice to come to God in His Word to find satisfaction. Good thinking.
This is a true statement, “I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.” But it can not ring true if we do not choose to draw close to God. One of the best ways we can do that is by spending time in His word. It looks like our sojourner here has put a few miles on that Bible. Can the same be said of one or more of the copies of God’s word which you possess? If not, why not? If so, how will you continue to seek after God as He reveals Himself in His word?
I like reading a bound copy of the Bible. Love feeling it in my hands and flipping to my most recent place of revelation. Yet, for the convenience of having several copies at my fingertips, I generally read it on my phone. However you get into it, let it get into you. It will point the way to the place of satisfaction and even become it as you are diligent to get it in front of your eyes.
Learning to walk closely with Jesus certainly includes learning how He walks, but reading His Word is only way of the ways to do this. We also learn by watching others who do it well, and by learning to talk with Jesus so we can develop our ability to discern when our choices may be leading down a wrong path. Let’s think about these latter two.
Walking Closely
Because we can not see Jesus footprints in the sand like the photo above, we must figure out other ways to follow Him. Fortunately, there have been many who have gone before us, and we can learn from their spiritual stride how to walk closely to Jesus. Who comes to mind in your life that is following Jesus in such a way that you could improve the quality of your walk by emulating them? Thank God for the people that just came to mind then think about how you could learn even more from them.
Lace Them Up
If you can not think of anyone, then you need to begin to pray that God will help you identify someone. Once He has, ask them if you can walk along beside them awhile. I would advise you to put your walking shoes on as you ask because I am exceedingly confident God will provide someone for you.
Even in those moments when there is not someone into whose footprints you may carefully learn to place your own, there is yet another way to learn how to walk closely with Jesus. Ask Him to teach you. That’s right. Begin a dialogue with Jesus about where your feet are taking you, and begin to make changes as needed.
He wants you to walk closely. When you mirror that desire the Holy Spirit will be right on your heels prompting you to make right steps. Do not complicate the process. Just get walking and talking to Jesus and very soon you will find yourself satisfied.
Jesus, help me to find satisfaction by learning to walk closely with You. Bring people into my life who have learned that better than me, so I can copy them. Teach me how to talk with You so I may discern when I need to change my direction, or at least my speed. Let me walk close to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Satisfied Thinking!
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Podcast 7.1 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.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Though the psalmist’s focus here is on the certainty of the strength that God is for us, I have often wrestled with the word “may” referring to the failing of my flesh and heart. My flesh and heart fail me routinely, but God never does. Thank Him for His strength.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
Our weakness is revealed when we pursue wrong things. This pursuit causes us to stumble. Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling, to keep us from all wrong. Ask Him to keep you from the counterfeits of wrong things by giving you a desire for right things which bring joy.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Our being kept from wrong hinges not on Jesus ability to keep us because that is set, but instead on our pursuit of righteousness, which we can only accomplish in His strength. Ask Jesus to help you hunger and thirst for rightness, for that quest will bring you the satisfaction your soul truly craves.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
We need to walk closely to Jesus because only that will satisfy our longing. We know this is true because we have all been disappointed by pursuing the wrong things which only satisfy for a time. Ask Jesus to help you walk closely with Him today, and everyday.
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.
I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to 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.
