We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

Revive Us Again (1863)
By: Mackay, William Paton, M.D. (1839-1885)

Listen to this version in a gospel style as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We begin our journey through this classic hymn sung across oceans and denominations for 150 years. Our prayer is the same as all the saints who have sung it before, “Revive us again”. Let’s tune our hearts.

Praise Him

It’s a good place to start a cry for revival.

How often we need revived because life has squeezed what seemed like all the praise out of us? Or maybe we simply let it slowly seep out without taking time to nurture more of it until we were all but empty? Or maybe we have allowed ourselves to question if He is even worthy of praise, or if we even want to offer it?

Ever had any of those feelings? Or others that resembled them? I figure you have. I certainly have. And if you can acknowledge it, then you are in good company.

But you are also not alone if you are ready and eager to join the praise again. Praise has both vertical and horizontal impacts. We praise Him! We come together to acknowledge His worth. We send His praise vertically, as we declare our need for revival horizontally. And when we do, we join the saints of old and on high.

We praise Thee, O God!

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. Psalm 21:13 ESV

Praising God is a choice and commitment. We must make this choice based on His worth, put on display by His powerful acts. We also make this commitment as a result of the choice. We will sing…

Sometimes, however, the choice is not easy. He is always worthy, but sometimes the circumstances in which we find ourselves make acknowledging that difficult. How will you acknowledge God’s praiseworthiness today?

RESONATE!
Are you offering praise to God? If something has stopped your praise, you have at least two ways to address it. You can try to identify whatever is keeping you from offering your praise, confess it to God, and ask Him to deliver you from it. Or you can think about His strength and power and begin offering praise as a result of it. Make a choice to praise, and ask for God’s help to offer it.

What For

Maybe you struggled as you tried to think of God’s strength and power on display in your life. We have shared that perspective at one time or another, often when there is a particular way we are longing to see God move and He does not seem to be. We all share that malady.

But that is not all we share.

As we contemplate the praiseworthiness of God, there is another perspective we can share. Imagine for a moment you are standing at the foot of the cross. You look up and see Jesus hanging there, and you lock eyes with him. You might expect to feel pity, but instead, you feel acceptance.

Jesus is the incarnate expression of God’s great love for us. The hymnwriter calls Him, “the Son of Thy love”. If you ever struggle to find a reason for praise, think on this: God loves you so much He sent His Son to earth to complete the mission of reconciling lost sinners to Himself. The Father was pleased with Jesus from the beginning to the end of His work.

For the Son of Thy love,

And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 ESV

RESONATE!
Because of what Jesus did, we have both a reason and the means to praise God. Even when we drift and loose sight of it, He draws us back, reviving our hallelujahs. What is the state of your praise today? Hearty or anemic or somewhere in between? Think on Jesus and give praise to God today.

Jesus, thank You for giving me a reason to praise. Forgive me for the times I have taken the gift of life for granted and have remained silent. Renew my hallelujah today I pray. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Refreshing Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re 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.

Video 22.1 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.

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

We must make the choice to praise God, and sometimes that choice is not easy. He is always worthy, but sometimes the circumstances we are in make acknowledging that difficult. How will you acknowledge God’s praiseworthiness today? Make a choice, and ask for help.

Jesus, help me to acknowledge Your worth today.

The Father loves His Son. And He loves us, too. So much so that He was willing to do whatever it would take to reconcile us to Himself, including sacrificing His Son. Thank Him again today for offering you such an incredible, unmerited favor, the love of God.

Father, thank You for loving me.

We praise Him for Jesus who died. Though there are many things for which we can praise God, the death of Jesus, which makes eternal life available to us, is easily the greatest, for without it we are lost. Ask the Holy Spirit to revive your faith in Jesus today.

Holy Spirit, revive my faith in Jesus.

He died, but is alive forever, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father. From there, He will return one day to take us to be with Him forever. There will be many hallelujahs sung that glorious day. Give God glory now and forevermore for the hope we have in Him. 

God, I praise You for the hope I have in You.

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.

The post Renewing Your Reverence appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
We Praise Thee O God – https://pixabay.com/photos/people-lady-woman-man-guy-praying-2585962/
For the Son of Thy Love – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-cross-crucifixion-christ-578217/

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Early 12th Century)
By: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)

Listen to this version with a single solo voice as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We continue our journey through this ancient hymn, originally written in Latin, but still true today. There truly is no name like Jesus, no matter the century. He is our source of hope and joy. Let’s tune our hearts.

What’s Your View?

When you think of the words of Jesus, even the whole of God’s communication to us in His written word, what is your view? Is it a list of commands to follow? An interesting history lesson? A road map? A love letter? 

For many of us, it is likely different things at different times, seasons, and days. It serves different purposes as God sees fit at different parts of our journey. Even still, sometimes it can be tedious to open it and read it, or more appropriately let it read us.

With those considerations in mind, please answer this simple question: When was the last time you looked at this book and thought “Herein lies to key to my joy”? Jesus’ words informed my perspective again today as I thought about the joy that He is, and how to cultivate it.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 ESV

Jesus is our joy. He desires His joy to be in us, and that joy to be full. How do we ascertain that joy? By welcoming His words into our hearts and ives.

We find joy in many things in life, but Jesus is the source of them all. In this passage, Jesus is speaking of living in His love, for doing so provides us life, and with it, access to joy. When we stay connected to Jesus, His joy flows through us. 

RESONATE!
Are you joyful? Let me ask it another way. Are you full of joy? In another translation, Jesus says complete. If not, consider if maybe you are trying to find your joy elsewhere, and in so doing are constraining the flow Jesus has granted to you. The remedy? Take Jesus’ words and apply them. Read John 15:1-11 for some insight. Thank Him for the access to His joy His words provide.

Pressing On

So as you contemplate how to make Jesus your only joy now, what implications does that have for later? The things of value in this life require some effort, right? As you apply yourself to the pursuit of joy today, what else might you be pressing on toward?

As Thou our prize will be;

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 ESV

There is no prize like this one. It is better than any other you can achieve by far, and also has already been granted to you at your surrender to Jesus. There is a sense in which it is yours now, and simultaneously is not fully within your grasp. It is as if the event is over, but the award ceremony has not taken place. Jesus has accomplished the trophy of a redeemed life, and you are the one who gets to stand on the podium to receive it.

We know there is more coming. Jesus is our joy today, and one day soon will be our prize. It is the ultimate conclusion of living in the call of God. Jesus has done His part, and now we must do ours, infinitesimally small though it may be by comparison. Even still, we press on today through every delight and dilemma, listening to His voice. 

 

 

RESONATE!
We will wear a crown when we arrive in glory, but we will gladly lay it down before Jesus who will be our prize. We may believe nothing compares to Him now, but on that day, we will know and practice the wonder of how true it is. Ask Jesus to help you anticipate the prize He will be, even as you praise Him for calling you upward.

Jesus, thank You for the joy You are today, and the prize You will be one day. Help me to live in Your words, so Your joy may flow through me as I long to receive the prize of my upward calling in You one day. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Joyful Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re 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.

Video 21.4 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.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

May we learn to hold Jesus in such high esteem that every other joy pales in comparison, so much so that He appears to be our only joy. There are many other joys in life, but none should captivate our hearts like Him. Ask the Spirit to overwhelm you with joy in Jesus.

Spirit, overwhelm me with joy in Jesus.

We may wear a crown when we arrive in glory, but we will gladly lay it down before Jesus who will be our prize. We may believe nothing compares to Him now, but on that day, we will practice it. Ask Jesus to help you anticipate the prize He will be.

Jesus, help me anticipate the prize You will be.

But we are not simply waiting until that day to live in the glory of Jesus. We can do that today. There is an inheritance that will be ours one day, but we can walk in the reality of it even now. Ask the Father to help you live in the glory of Jesus while you wait to see His face.

Father, help me live in Jesus’ glory today.

Though we want to walk in it now, there is so much we can not even begin to comprehend of His glory until we see His face. He is our glory now, but we will enjoy an even greater glory eternally in His presence. Thank Him there is more to come.

Jesus, thank You there is more glory to come.

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.

The post Perspective, Now and Then appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Jesus, Our Only Joy Be Thou – https://pixabay.com/photos/bible-book-knowledge-pages-reading-1868070/
As Thou Our Prize Wilt Be – https://pixabay.com/photos/trophies-show-award-trophy-prize-710169/

All those who find Thee find a bliss
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Early 12th Century)
By: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)

Listen to this version with a single solo voice as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We continue our journey through this ancient hymn, originally written in Latin, but still true today. There truly is no name like Jesus, no matter the century. He is our source of hope and joy. Let’s tune our hearts.

Perfect Happiness

It can be so elusive. Often the things we think will bring it leave us unfulfilled. So we simply exchange one object for another in a seemingly endless quest for happiness. Or was it satisfaction?

The issue rests not so much in the pursuit, or even the driving motivation, but instead in that which we are pursuing. When we are after something that simply can not satisfy our deepest longing, we will only be disappointed when we realize the vanity of the quest. What we need to do first is be certain that we are pursuing the things that will truly satisfy.

The only thing that can satisfy that God-shaped hole in our hearts is God. Nothing else. Intuitively, we know this, but we try to settle for lessor fillers for various reasons.

All those who find Thee find a bliss

You make known to me the path of life;
   in your presence there is fullness of joy;
   at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  Psalm 16:11 ESV

Bliss is perfect happiness. In the presence of Jesus is fullness of joy. Perfect happiness and fullness of joy sound pretty similar don’t they? That is what we find in Christ. Thank Him for making this path of life known to you, and for the eternal pleasures His right hand holds.

RESONATE!
So what are you searching or striving for? There is a bliss or perfect happiness available only to those who find Jesus, for in Him they find great joy and relief from the burden of sin and self. Recall that moment you first realized what Jesus was offering you. Can you remember it? It was bliss. Thank Him for that.

No Words

Have you found that bliss? If you have, think of a time when you tried to share it with someone who had never experienced it. What stories did you tell? What analogies did you use? How did you communicate with them?

There are no words that can fully and accurately portray the great joy that comes into each soul that has found the path of life in Christ. Only those who have surrendered to Jesus and accepted His free gift of life can understand the freedom we have found in Him.

It can be frustrating to try to show your bliss with your tongue or your pen. But it is also exhilarating when another soul surrenders to Jesus and finds it. It is so worth the effort when you see the Holy Spirit doing His work of bringing someone to repentance.

Nor tongue nor pen can show;

But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ESV

There truly is no way for us to adequately portray in any manner the love of Christ without the work of the Holy Spirit. No tongue or pen can show it, but the Spirit reveals it perfectly and completely. Thank Him for showing you the love of Christ, the very depths of God.

RESONATE!
If we had 1 billion CD’s they would be insufficient to tell of the perfect happiness we find in the love of Christ. If the sky were a scroll and the oceans ink, still the great joy we discover in the depths of God can not adequately be represented or fully set forth. Not even the most eloquent orator or author can tell it completely. Even still, ask the Spirit to reveal it to you again today. Take a few moments to let Him do His unparalleled work of revelation as He shows you again the bliss you have in Christ.

Jesus, thank You for the bliss that is ours when we surrender our lives to You. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing that to us, and continually taking us deeper into God. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what the Spirit is revealing. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Blissful Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re 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.

Video 21.3 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.

All those who find Thee find a bliss
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

There is a bliss or perfect happiness for those who find Jesus, for in Him they find great joy and relief from the burden of sin and self. Recall that moment you first realized what Jesus was offering you. Can you remember it? It was bliss. Thank Him for that.

Jesus, thank You for the bliss I have found in You.

If the sky were a scroll and the oceans ink, still the delight we discover in God can not adequately be represented or fully set forth. Not even the most eloquent orator can tell it completely. Still, ask the Spirit to reveal it to you again today.

Spirit, show me the bliss I have in Christ again.

The love of Jesus is what is truly inexpressible. Our bliss flows from our knowledge of that, but it is not simply intellectual. It stirs our hearts like nothing else, for there is nothing else like it. Praise Him for making it known to you.

Jesus, I praise You for making Your love known.

The knowledge that only those who belong to Jesus can understand His love is both thrilling and terrifying. Thrilling because we know, and terrifying because there remain so many who do not. Ask God to help you live out your faith with that awareness every day.

God, help me live out the love of Christ so others can know.

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.

The post The Spirit Does What No Orator or Author Can appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
All Those Who Find Thee Find a Bliss – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/person-human-joy-sunset-sun-110303/
No Tongue or Pen Can Show – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/meeting-exchange-of-information-106591/

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Early 12th Century)
By: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)

Listen to this version with a single solo voice as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We continue our journey through this ancient hymn, originally written in Latin, but still true today. There truly is no name like Jesus, no matter the century. He is our source of hope and joy. Let’s tune our hearts.

Highs and Lows Meet

We have all found ourselves at low places at times. Something has broken us and left us on our knees before the Most High God. Often, those things have taken us by surprise along the journey of life.

Can you relate? Maybe you are in one of those difficult times today, and are very mindful that you have arrived there as a result of your own choices. Do not fight that guilt or the brokenness it brings: embrace it, for there is a blessing on the other side of doing so, even hope through the process.

O hope of every contrite heart,

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15 ESV

Here God declares not only that He dwells on high, but also with anyone who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. The Presence of the Most High is promised to the low in spirit, and from it springs revival. Do you feel like you are almost gone, your hope ebbing away? You are in a perfect place to encounter the Holy One. Bring your broken heart, and ask Him to be your hope again today.

For all those willing to accept and acknowledge their guilt before God, Jesus has promised to be their hope. There is nothing more that needs to be accomplished, simply accepted. This is the hope Jesus has made available to all who confess their need of Him. He will meet you in that low place and lift you into His loving, refreshing embrace.

RESONATE!
Is there anything you need to confess to God today? Something you have done or left undone that has left you feeling guilty before the High and Holy One? You can find that relationship restored and your hope revived right now. Allow your brokenness to bridge the divide your soul feels and rest once again in the kindness of our God.

Submitting to God Involves Waiting on Him

Ever feel like the young man on the edge of the terminal? You are waiting for your train to come. You have submitted yourself to the schedule upon which it runs and now must simply wait.

It is difficult to submit our will to something or someone beyond our control. It is especially difficult to do that quietly and gently. But when the one we are submitting to is the Holy One, it can be much easier, partly because of who He is, and partly because of what He promises as the result of our meekness.

O joy of all the meek,

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:19 ESV

To be meek is to be submissive. Jesus is the joy of every soul that has submitted its will to God. We realize the joy He brings as we yield in an ongoing way all along our journey with Him, not simply that initial surrender at the beginning. Is your joy increasing as you walk with Jesus? It should be, and it can. Ask the Spirit for help.

Could you use some fresh joy today? Then simply confess your willingness to gently, quietly submit to God’s will and obtain it. He has promised, and He will do it. Seek and show your elation in the Holy One right now.

Spirit, help me continually surrender my soul to my Lord.

RESONATE!
Is there some area where you are and maybe have been struggling to submit to God’s will? Maybe you have even gotten on the wrong train in the hopes of getting to your desired destination sooner, only to later realize it was the wrong way to get to the wrong place. Tell God again today you will surrender to His ways and timing, and find a fresh joy for the journey that remains.

Jesus, thank You for the promise of Your presence and fresh joy if I will simply surrender to Your purposes and ways. Help me to look to You every day and submit to You. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Hopeful Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re 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.

Video 21.2 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.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

For all those willing to accept and acknowledge their guilt before God, Jesus will be their hope. There is nothing more that needs to be accomplished, simply accepted. This is the hope Jesus has made available to all who confess their need of Him. Thank Him.

Jesus, thank You for the hope I have in You.

To be meek is to be submissive. Jesus is the joy of every soul that has submitted its will to God. We realize the joy He brings as we yield in an ongoing way, not simply that initial surrender. Is your joy increasing as you walk with Jesus? It should be. Ask the Spirit for help.

Spirit, help me continually surrender my soul to my Lord.

We have each experienced the kindness of Jesus, but we become acutely aware of just how kind He is when we fall, and we all do. We tend to be hard on ourselves, but Jesus is ever kind. Give Him praise for His endless kindness to you, especially when you do not deserve it.

Jesus, thank You for Your kindness when I have fallen.

Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, none of us would ever seek after Jesus, yet He helps us, and when He does, we find out just how good Jesus is, especially set against the reality of how bad we are. Thank the Father for giving you the ability to seek Jesus.

God, thank you for enabling me to seek 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.

The post Do You Know the Path of Hope and Joy? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
O Hope of Every Contrite Heart – https://pixabay.com/photos/underground-god-hope-urban-destiny-885206/
O Joy of All the Meek – https://pixabay.com/photos/stand-by-train-railway-suetsid-1848973/

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Early 12th Century)
By: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)

Listen to this version with a single solo voice as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We begin our journey through this ancient hymn originally written in Latin, but still true today. There truly is no name like Jesus, no matter the century. Let’s tune our hearts.

Thought Processes

So what do you think about when you aren’t thinking about anything else? What you daydream about? The answers to these questions reveal a lot of information. Let me give you an example.

Today my oldest son turns 21. I can remember the first time I held him on my lap over two decades ago. The days leading up to his arrival, and those first few days with him, I could hardly focus on anything else but his arrival, and then his care. Another way of putting it. I was preoccupied.

Do you know that feeling? Sometimes it is a wonderful thing, and other times a dreadful one, but there are things that simply captivate our mental capacities at different points in our lives. They consume our thought processes.

What is that thing for you today?  A new job? An old wound? A broken relationship? You name it.

Truth be told, Jesus wants to be that preoccupying thought for you. He knows that a preoccupation with Him will resolve many of the struggles of your life, or at least give you a very different perspective on them. He is absolutely worthy of such undivided attention.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV

Jesus is all these things, and thinking of Him ushers them into our minds and our lives. We should work to cultivate a mindset that is fixated on Him. Thinking about Him often everyday allows our thoughts to reflect the beauty of our Savior.

RESONATE!
Thinking about the name of Jesus changes things. We often cry out to Him in desperation, but we should also set out minds on Him in delight, because these two extremes and everything in between them is impacted by our perspective on Him. Think about His name for a few moments right now. Then consider setting a timer to go off every hour through the rest of this day and when it goes off take a minute to think of it again. This is one way to develop a mindset that is filled with Jesus.

Reinforce Desires

All of us know things that are good for us, yet we sometimes lack the diligence to seek them as we should. When we think about things, our thoughts can influence our actions and even guide our appetites. Let me offer another example.

When I am watching my calorie intake managing my weight becomes a much simpler process. When I eat fewer calories than I need every day, I will loss weight. When I eat more than I need, well you the idea.  Counting calories influences and even constrains how I act on my appetites.

Could the same be true in other areas of our lives besides the physical? Absolutely.

What I think about, what I ponder in my soul, what I long for will indubitably affect the direction and fervency of what I desire. I what I desire has an impact on the quality of my life, so best to long for good things. And what better thing is there than the wisdom of knowing God?

With sweetness fills my breast;

My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 24:13-14 ESV

When we think on the things from the passage above they set our minds on Christ and His words. Feasting on His words brings a sweetness into our minds that can transform us from the inside out. His wisdom is indeed so sweet because it assures us of a future and a hope.

 

RESONATE!
Are you pursuing things that will bring sweetness to your soul? Jesus wants this for you, and frankly is that for you, but we must diligently seek. Thank Him for His sweet words and commit to feast on them everyday, trusting they will fill you with the sweetness of His presence.

Jesus, thank You for the sweetness of Your presence. Help me to experience it more and more everyday by filling my mind with your words. Give me a desire for more of You. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Thoughtful Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

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Video 21.1 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.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Just the thought of the name of Jesus does something for the true follower. Many times we cry out in desperation, but evenin delight, uttering His matchless name changes things. There truly is no name like the name of Jesus. Think about it for a few moments.

Jesus, fill my thoughts with Your name.

Where there was rot and decay He brings a vibrant and dynamic renewal and refreshing until sweetness displaces everything else. Is there anything threatening the filling of the core of your being today. Speak the name of Jesus in your heart again right now and experience His fullness.

Jesus, fill me with the sweetness of Your presence.

Even better will be that day when we finally see Him face-to-face. The sweetness of His unveiled glory in those moments will be sweeter than anything we will have ever experienced, by far. Ask the Spirit to help you long for that day.

Holy Spirit, help me long to see Jesus face.

The rest we will find in His presence that day will be overwhelming. So glorious will it be that for the balance of eternity we will never grow weary of marveling at its radiance. Peace promised by Him finally ours when we arrive in His presence. What an inheritance is ours! 

God, thank You for the promise of rest in Your presence.

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.

The post You Are What You…Think appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Jesus, the Very the Thought of Thee – https://pixabay.com/vectors/thought-bubble-think-comic-blank-305053/
With Sweetness Fill My Breast – https://pixabay.com/vectors/bee-jar-pot-honey-food-dessert-5069152/