My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
  For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.  

Over these next four weeks we will look into this timeless hymn, written in all likelihood by a 12-16 year, which examines several different moments in the life of the believer.  In each of those “now” moments, we are encouraged to express our love to Jesus in a variety of ways.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Fire

This hymn gives voice to the words in John 21 where Jesus reinstates Peter.  As they finished their meal, Peter declares three times his love for Jesus.  Peter had only days before denied Christ as he stood around another fire.

They shared some bread and fish together shortly after sunrise.  Jesus drew Peter close and warmed his heart with the invitation  to follow, again.  How sweet those moments with the resurrected Christ must have been for them.

How often our love for Jesus has grown cold and He invites us again to follow.  Not because we deserve it or have gotten our act together, but because He knows what is best for us, and that is it.

Jesus, I love you.  Many times over these weeks we are going to examine different moments of our life.  The “now” of each of those moments presents us with unique opportunities to demonstrate our love for Jesus.  We declare in each of them with the hymn writer “if ever I loved You Jesus, it’s now.”  May that become more true in our lives as we consider and determine our responses in each of those “nows”.

Mine

The first passage that comes to mind for me with the word mine is a very personal one.  On the inside of my wedding band are the words, “I am my beloved’s”.  It is referencing Song of Solomon 6:3a, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”  I have not always lived that out well, but it has always been and will always be my intention to do so.

The same could be said of our commitment to Jesus.  We have not always lived that out well, but it has always been our intention to do so.  Why?  Because it is the only appropriate response to Jesus giving Himself so selflessly to pay the penalty our sin deserved.  He put it like this.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13 (ESV)

Jesus has clearly and in dramatic fashion laid down his life for us.  We know He has done this for the glory of God and for our good, both simultaneously, as an extravagant expression of love.  One unlike any other other across all time and space.  The kind of expression that demands a response.

Resign

“To Thee all the follies of sin I resign.”  That is quite a response.

We use most of those words today, some 150 years after these were first penned, with the exception of one.  Follies.  Here that is meant to imply foolishness.  So essentially we are committing to cease our involvement in the foolishness of sin.  Sounds easy.  But in practice, not so much.

We would agree with the writer and confess this is the right response to being delivered from the consequences of sin, yet we still struggle to refrain from engaging in its foolishness.  While an entire book could be written on this struggle, and indeed it has been, consider this one line from it and the wisdom of its instruction.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (ESV)

I think the danger is trying to be dead to sin, without actually spending the bulk of our attention on being alive to God.  It’s the old negative versus positive conundrum.  Allow me to illustrate.

When you yell to a child running down the hall, “Don’t run”, the last thing they hear is “run” and you are reinforcing the negative behavior.  If instead you say “Walking feet”, you create a positive alternative and make clear the right behavior.

Though there is no simple formula to help you love Jesus more than sin, the next time you are faced with a temptation remind yourself of this conundrum, and ask the Holy Spirit to be that positive voice in your heart.  As opposed to telling your self, “Don’t sin”, allow the Spirit to speak to your heart “Love Jesus”.  I know it seems simple, but it has helped me to keep that commitment of love countless times, and I believe it can help you too.  And we will keep providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Positive Tuning!

Jesus, I love you.  I am so thankful you gave yourself as a sacrifice for my sin, delivering me from it’s folly.  I commit to love You again today, and ask for Your help to do it.  Holy Spirit, help me to resign to sin by  focusing more on loving Jesus.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 9.1 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.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
  For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

When you know Jesus is for you, and what He has done to demonstrate that to you, the only appropriate response is to love Him.  The One who made all things and is remaking them wants to save you. Tell Him you love Him.

Foolishness, that what follies are.  Seems like a simple thing. Give up the foolishness of sin to fully embrace the wisdom of Christ’s love.  But it is not as easy as it sounds. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any follies you have yet to resign.

The realization of the truths of the third line are what I believe empowers the worshipper to declare the other three lines.  When we confess that He is the only One who can redeem us, purchasing us back from sin, saving us from the wrath of God, our worship begins.  Declare He is your Savior and Redeemer.

The use of the word now to describe the immediacy of the worshippers love here is intriguing, especially since the hymn takes us to four distinct, different moments in our journey of love.  This initial one seems to be those moments when we first determined to love Jesus. Recall your love for Jesus in those moments to kindle it again in these.

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
Fire on the Shore – https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-water-dusk-outdoors-shore-3097772/
I Am My Beloved’s – https://pixabay.com/photos/wedding-rings-engagement-rings-3611277/
Don’t Run – https://giphy.com/gifs/ted-talk-vaJquoRYdcN0c

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.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

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/

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our trouble
  He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
  Find a little talk with 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.

This week we wrap up the talking portion of our walking/talking journey,   I hope you will take a little time today to tune your heart, and tomorrow as Dr. Sherri Woods returns with her third Wednesday Wanderings, a different look at the text we will use to tune today.  You can be certain of getting it if you are on our list, since it will come directly to your email.  If you are not on our list, sign-up today in the box to the right.

Let’s tune our hearts!

A Little Talk with Jesus

We need to learn to bring our bumps and bruises to Jesus.  That’s what the image above reminds me.  We have a tendency to try to handle things on our own, or rationalize that we should not bother Jesus with the small stuff.

The little boy has a skinned up knee, maybe he fell down.  One corner of His mouth is bruised, maybe he said something someone thought he should not.   His eye is black and blue, maybe he saw something that got him in trouble.  I can relate to the possible causes of his pain, and I am certain you can too.

Some of our trouble we bring on ourselves, and some comes through others.  Either way it hurts.  You can see he is discouraged, and you know what that feels like.

The dove perched there and the face on the bench remind me that God is near to the brokenhearted, but I am not convinced the boy knows it.  How often have we been guilty of not taking advantage of the access we have to God?  Like a little child, we can come to our Jesus, and…

Tell Him All About Our Trouble

The look on this little boys face could be taken many ways.  Maybe he knows He has brought some trouble on Himself.  “Dad, there is something I have to tell you.”  Maybe someone else is giving Him the trouble.  “Dad, someone at school is being mean to me.”  Either way, going to his Dad to talk is a great idea.

They will be likely be able to sort out the problem, get to the root cause of it and maybe even figure out a way to deal with it in that one little talk.  Maybe they will only be able to begin to plot the course out of the trouble, but even that is better tan dealing with it on his own.

What trouble are you dealing with today?  Have you had a little talk with Jesus about it?  Have you told Jesus all about it?  If so, do you have s sense of what He is saying to you?  If not, why not? Either way, take a minute right now before reading any further to have a little talk with Jesus.

He Will Hear our Humble Cry

Though there are many reasons we do not talk to Jesus about our troubles, I have often said one of the most basic reasons is we simply lack the faith that He actually hear us.  Even if we have resolved that crucial issue, many wrestle to find rest in a certainty that He cares enough to do anything.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  Psalm 34:17 ESV

That is pretty straightforward.  When we cry for help the Lord hears us.  Maybe you dismiss this verse because you feel you are not righteous.  If you have determined to put your confidence in Christ’s work to make you right with God, the Father does not determine your righteousness based on what you done, but on what Christ has done.  Simply resolve to trust Christ, and believe He hears you.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7 ESV 

This Scripture encourages us to tell Him all about our troubles and the anxiety they create as a response to His care for us.  Because He cares for us, we should cast our cares on Him.  Are you convinced God cares for you?  Think about your life, and all the good things.  God is the source of all of them.  Ask Him to help you accept this foundational truth.

He is reaching out to you even now.  Even as you read this.  Trace His finger reaching out to you and respond by reaching to Him.  He will hear because He cares for you.

He Will Answer

The last part of Psalm 34:17 puts God on the hook to do something.  It says He will “deliver them out of all their troubles.”  For me this is the hardest of the equation, as if this were a formula at all.  But there is a promise element to these words, a stronger element than just a principle at work when God intervenes.  

When the righteous cry for help, He will deliver.  If you have cried out for help before, trusting in the finished work of Christ to impart His righteousness on you, you may have been left wondering when the deliverance would come.  You may have been let waiting for it for a long time.  You may still be waiting for it today.

Our song text contextualizes God’s answer with a copious timeframe.  By and by.  Not in common usage today, this poetic phrase means simply, “before long” or “eventually”.  Those two definitions seem very different, although they are one and the same.  

To One who is eternal, before long comes much more quickly than it seems to one bound by time.  The song is reminding us that God will answer eventually.  The problem with that promise is that it came seem like a long time coming, but that is simply our limited and frankly very small perspective.

He will answer.  It may not be until by and by.  But He will answer.

Take a few moments and have a little talk with Jesus about the troubles you are experiencing today or this season.  Tell Him you are confident He will answer, and ask Him for the patience to wait until the before long or eventually happens.  He will hear even your faintest cry because He cares for you.

We will continue to warm our hearts with these truths as we consider our conversations with Jesus on Thursday and subsequent weeks, but be sure to take a few minutes and cultivate that heart to converse with Jesus through the video log and/or transcript below the prayer.  The video is available only to our Subscribers, but the transcript is available to everyone.  Become a Subscriber today.  Simply click here.

Restful Tuning!

Jesus, teach me the value of having little talks with You throughout this day.  Help me to practice the discipline of telling You about my troubles, confident You hear me and will answer.  Give me the patience to wait until You do.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each new post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone, the transcript below.

Video 8.3 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.

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
Let us tell Him all about our trouble
  He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by
And when you feel a little prayer wheel turnin’
And you will know a little fire is burnin’
  Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Make little talks with Jesus a habit.  Work at just normal conversation. Share your heart, but make sure you spend time listening as well, because God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason.  Ask Jesus to help you grow in your ability to talk with Him.

He hears even our faintest cry, so don’t worry if you are having trouble finding the energy or courage to pray with passion, just let it out.  He will answer, it may be soon, or after a little while, but rest knowing His response is coming.

I believe the prayer wheel symbolizes praying without ceasing. That does not mean constant talking, but always praying, and especially when something is burning inside that you just have to share with Jesus.   Ask Jesus to stoke that fire. 

Though talking with Jesus may not immediately change your circumstances, it can immediately change you.  Whether just telling HIm about it, or actually sensing His response, it changes things. Talk to Jesus right now for a few moments right now.

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
A Little Talk – https://pixabay.com/photos/outdoors-grass-summer-field-sunset-3202494/
Tell Him All About Our Trouble – https://pixabay.com/photos/sad-child-boy-kid-crying-tears-219721/
He Will Hear – https://pixabay.com/photos/michelangelo-abstract-boy-child-71282/
By and By – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/acient-planet-astronomy-astrology-1841699/

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.

We turn our attention back to Just a Closer Walk with Thee and consider the implications of doing so when we come to the end of our lives.  When you can see the end clearly, it helps you determine which steps to take, and tuning our hearts to the reality of eternity is a part of that exercise.  This week let’s spend some time thinking about what it will be like to live beyond time.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Feeble

Now there’s a word not in common use today.  The phrase that comes to mind for me when I think of feeble is from another great hymn, “O Worship the King”. It describes us this way, “Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail.”

The older I get the more I understand the truth of that poetic expression.  We are made of dust, and it is impossible to escape that reality.  Existing simultaneously with it is another reality expressed in the wisdom of Solomon.

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.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

Though we are increasingly mindful of our mortality, even it causes us to be more helpful of our eternal state.  God is there from the beginning to the end.  We were not there at the beginning, but will be at the end.

Our advancing years reveal the frailty of our physical bodies.  We get stronger for a time, then begin the long, slow descent to our eventual demise.

How are you mindful of that today?  Are you trusting Jesus in spite of that limitation, and maybe even mores because of it?  Thank Jesus for His strength, made perfect in your weakness.

Over

We will come to our end.  That is well established.  There is no good argument against this encroaching reality.

There is a plot in the ground waiting for each of us, unless of course we choose cremation instead, but you get the point.  I routinely face this as I have the privilege of serving families at the funerals and memorials for their departed loved ones, but it came painfully close this spring when my father died.

I had watched his painful decline over the last couple of years in particular as his body became increasingly feeble, no longer able to do the things he had previously.  Then on a day back in March I heard what was still the somewhat surprising news that he had taken a turn for the worse and within a short period of time had come to his end.  Though I could see it approaching, his final demise was still difficult to fathom, only comforted by the confidence I have that He is with the Lord.

He was gone from this life.  His journey here was over.  Never more was this more clear than at the graveside when we said our final goodbyes, for now.  There in the cemetery it is clear what eventually happens to us all, which we are inclined to try to ignore.

If your life to be over today, are you prepared?  Do you have a peace about what is in store for you beyond the grave?  Does that confidence rest in Jesus?  If so, you can face the end of your time here assured of what is to come.  Thank Jesus for the confidence.

No More

Time has run out.  Strange to think of it in the past tense?  That will be true of each of us at some point.  We will look back at a life lived, like the last grains of sand having passed through the hourglass.

We can do so with hope.  Now, simply hope.  Then, hope fulfilled.  We can approach the end of our feeble lives, the end of time as we know it, with peace.  At rest with our frailty and our mortality.

Do you have the hope, that peace, that rest?  You can.  Then the confidence that Jesus will guide you safely to heavenly shores will flood your soul.  More on that in our Thursday Thoughts.  

I hope you will come back and tune with us again, but for today make certain to enjoy the resources below which are companions to these Tunings.

Honest Tuning!

Jesus, make me mindful of how feeble this life is so I may escape the temptation to put my hope it in.  Instead, teach me to number my days, and gain wisdom from resting in You.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 7.3 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.

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.

We live our lives at times with little awareness internal or otherwise that this life is but a vapor.  We become increasingly aware as we grow older how frial our lives are becoming. Have you determined to trust God through all your days, whether many or few?

There are two realities of time in play here.  First, our time is running out, for we are mortal, we each have an expiration date.  Second, it is difficult to imagine what it will be like to be beyond time, living eternally.  Ask Jesus for an eternal perspective.

If Jesus answers our prayer and teaches us how to walk closely with Him, it will be much easier for us to trust Him with the last leg of our journey here, even as the rest commences.  Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to teach you to trust His gentle leading in these days.

That way, we those moments come for you to step beyond time and into eternity it will be as peaceful as slowly coming to rest on the calm shores of a placid lake.  That is what awaits all those who walk closely with Jesus. Determine to walk one step behind Him today.

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
Feeble Life – https://pixabay.com/photos/born-died-life-lifespan-cradle-1264699/
Over – https://pixabay.com/photos/cemetery-grave-graves-tombstone-989920/
Sands of Time – https://pixabay.com/photos/pocket-watch-time-of-sand-time-3156771/
No More – https://pixabay.com/photos/time-clock-hourglass-hour-1817726/

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.

Last week a little walk, this week a little talk.  Walking and talking with Jesus, spending time with Him, changes us and our perspective.  I hope you will take a little time today to tune your heart, and tomorrow as Dr. Sherri Woods returns with her second Wednesday Wanderings, a different look at the text we will use to tune today.  You can be certain of getting if you are on our list, since it will come directly to your email.  If you are not on our list, sign-up today in the box to the right.

Let’s tune our hearts!

I May Have…?

Our text today starts with those words.  “I may have doubts and fears”.  May have?  Will have!  Oh yes, I will have doubts and fears, but they will not have me.

It is important not to take things out of context.  These first two lines which we will use to tune today are really one thought.  I understand the writer is saying that though I may have doubts and fears, I also have Jesus, and that awareness changes everything.  We will be examine this more thoroughly, but I think it is valuable to consider the difference between having something and it having you.

We all have doubts.  We doubt others.  We doubt ourselves.  We even doubt God.  There is a difference between having doubts and doubts having you, and it is a very important distinction.  You see, to have a doubt means simply that you lack certainty in something that may actually be worthy of it.  This can be overcome as we allow God to replace our doubt with faith.

It is another matter altogether for doubt to have you.  By this I mean that rather than simply possessing some doubt, doubt possesses you.  It takes you captive.  It overwhelms and controls you, influencing you in ways of which you are not even fully aware.  It is possible to overcome even when doubt has you, but it is much more complicated and challenging.

The same is true of fear.

Like doubt, fear comes in a variety of packages and from a myriad of sources.  Those listed in the image here are not an exhaustive list, but you quickly get the gist of the different kinds of ways fear manifests in our lives, often masking itself in other feelings.  So what are the most prevalent feelings for you which show the underlying root of fear?  Helpless, worthless, powerless, inadequate, lost, shameful, etc.

Before we move on to consider the tears they cause, take just a few moments to recount some of the doubts and fear you have, and evaluate if any of them have you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them and help you see them clearly.

Tears

We all have doubts.  We all have fears.  And those doubts and fears fill our eyes with tears on more than one occasion.  This is true not only for us, but all others who have professed our faith.  The Psalmist indicates as much on numerous occasions.  Here is one of the most common.

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”  Psalm 42:3 ESV

See, you are in good company with the very ones who experienced the inspiration of the Scripture.  Even they shed tears from doubts and fears.  Though it may not feel like much of a consolation now, as you reflect on this reality you will quickly see the universal condition of the human soul.  

Life has many challenges.  Many of them leave us feeling very powerless and small.  But we are never without hope.  We will examine why that is true as we tune our hearts to the truth of the next phrase, but first…

Take a few moments and have a little talk with Jesus about the tears you are shedding today or this season.  I am certain you do not have to think long and hard for these things tend to be near the surface, but ask Him to reveal anything that might be below the surface so you can deal with that pain and its’ causes. 

But Jesus…

So you have done a little inventory or the doubts and fears that are causing the tears in your life.  Let’s bring them to the One who cares for you.  Your friend.  Your shepherd.  Jesus.

I do not live in a society that is intimately familiar with shepherding so I do not have a deep experiential understanding of this illustration as used in the Scripture.  I can appreciate that Jesus watches over me not like one who is doing a job, but as one who has taken a personal interest in me, in you.

Over the years however I have learned some things about shepherding which have aided my understanding of this powerful image.  The most powerful one says a shepherd is willing to go to extreme measures to exercise his care for his sheep.  A lamb prone to wander must be taught stay near the shepherd to avoid danger.

If a lamb continues to wander, a good shepherd is willing to break the leg of the lamb and then carry it until it heals, so the lamb gets so used to the shepherds voice it will no longer wander.  That seems like going too far, but when you realize if could be the difference between life and death for the lamb, it seems less so.

The same is true for us.  I imagine there are some tears the Lord could spare us, but they are worthwhile if through the shedding of them, and the nearness to our Good Shepherd they foster, are are sparred much greater harm.  That possibility may give you a much better perspective on the things that have been the source of your tears.

Thank Jesus for being such a good shepherd that He would allow some pain to spare you far more.

Day and Night

Allow me to leave you with one final thought.

Jesus is eternally, continually vigilant in His care for you.  Even when you are sleeping, He never is.  Not only is He a good shepherd, but He is one who NEVER stops shepherding, even when you are asleep, or in many other ways unaware of His care.

That is hard for me to fathom, but I believe it is true.  Like that statue looking down upon Rio de Janeiro depicts, Jesus is watching us.   He never closes His eyes to us.  He never quits.  So I can always talk with Him since He is ever inclined to hear from me.  Hallelujah!

We will continue to warm our hearts with these truths as we continue considering our conversation with Jesus on Thursday and subsequent weeks, but be sure to take a few minutes and cultivate that heart to converse with Jesus through the video log and transcript below the prayer.  The video is available only to our Subscribers, but the transcript is available to everyone.  Become a Subscriber today.  Simply click here.

Restful Tuning!

Jesus, I have my share of doubts and fears, and they cause me many tears, but You are always watching over me.  I believe this, but I pray you will help me walk with a greater awareness of that, especially in those moments when I may be tempted to act like it is not true. In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each new post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers and Free Members enjoy this video! Everyone, the transcript below.

Video 8.2 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.

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.

I love the honesty of the opening line.  We all have doubts and fears and things that bring us to tears.  What sets the believer apart is that we can take all those things to Jesus.  What do you need to bring to Jesus today?

There is no friend like Jesus. This reminds me of His suffering in the Garden of Gethsamane when He asked His disciples to watch and pray but they kept falling asleep.  Thank Jesus that He is always watching over you. 

Because He is always watching over you, He knows your every care, even the ones you have trouble articulating.  Fortunately, the Spirit helps you even when you do not have the words to speak. Maybe you need some help like that right now?

I love the idea of a “little” talk.  Many words are not needful. Like sitting with a friend who knows you so well that few words get the job done.  Some of the together time is spent just being. Spend a few moments right now with Jesus.

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
Doubts – https://pixabay.com/photos/depression-sadness-man-2912424/
Fears – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fear-emotion-anxiety-vulnerability-2083651/
Eyes Filled with Tears – https://pixabay.com/photos/eye-tear-cry-sadness-pain-emotion-609987/
Jesus is a Freind – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/angst-anxiety-anguish-apprehension-802639/
Day and Night – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-redeemer-231724/