I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
  And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
  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.  And make sure to check out the video log below which will guide you through a worshipful reflection of this stanza.

We continued our look into this timeless hymn last week considering Jesus’ demonstration of love through His death on Calvary.  You can find that post here.  This week we turn our attention to the “now” of our own death, and the living until then, determined to continue to love Jesus through them all.  Let’s tune our hearts.

A Matter of Life and Death

This third stanza gives us the opportunity to consider our response of love whether living or dying.  It is a beautiful expression of this verse.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 ESV

To rephrase this commitment and simplify the stanza we could simply say “I’ll love Thee”.  But simplifying the words does not mean that actually doing the loving becomes simple.  It definitely makes it easier on two counts though.

1. There is intentionality involved.  We can draw strength from the fact that we decided to love Jesus in response to His love, especially when doing so becomes challenging.
2. There is commitment engaged.  We have told the One who loved us first that we are going to love Him as long as we live and even as we die.

Those are both very important because there are different seasons to everything.  Think about the image above.  I love Jesus differently when I am graduating to a nursing home than when I graduated from high school.  My own perspectives and life experience influence and inform my intention and commitment to love Jesus.

When Paul says to the church ay Philippi, that should he live he will do so for the glory of Christ, and should he die that will be for his gain.  That is a mature declaration that Paul was able to arrive at after some time of living in Christ.  It is one that every senior saint can say with a confidence the baby believer simply does not possess.

Whatever season you are living in today, old or young, weary or vigorous, happy or sad, etc.  determine to love Jesus in it.  Tell Him again right now you will, and ask Him for the ability to do so.

 

I Will Praise Thee

The Scripture says it best.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 ESV

Again the succinctness of the Scripture is so satisfying.  This is the command to which the commitment of the second line responds.

• Command:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
• Response:  Yes I will, as long as the Lord gives me breath!

So where are you with your response?  Now be careful because this one seems so easy as well.  Notice it does not say, “And praise Thee as long as…

• You give me what I want
• Things are going my way
• Life is easy
• I am not suffering
• Fill in the blank with your supposed first objection __________

It does say, “And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”  We are going to look into that poetic last phrase in a moment but first just consider what that implies.  As long as I am alive, I am going to praise You.  Not just obey, submit, serve, honor, etc., but praise.  All those other things are ways to praise, but can fall short if not offered with the right heart.  The heart that says to Jesus…

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you.  From Build My Life by Housefires

We live for you.  Maybe take a few minutes and just play that video and make that commitment.  Either way, tell him again today, “I will live for You!”

 

As Long As Thou Lendest Me Breath

 

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.  Genesis 2:7 ESV 

The idea here is that from the first of us, Adam, to the last of us, we will only live as God, the Giver of all breath allows.  Because He is the Giver, and we are His creation, we should declare that commitment with the hymn writer,  “I will praise You as long as You give me breath.”

That is a powerful declaration, but it is followed up with an even more powerful which we will consider on Thursday.  I will even sing my love song to Jesus as I prepare to take my last breath.  Hope to see you back here as we think about that.

Be careful when considering using that breath to make a powerful statement this this stanza offers.  This is serious stuff.  Literally a matter of life and death.  But I hope you will sing this commitment which us in the video below and then everyday in some way.  We will help you tune your heart to sing such praise by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Intentional Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for loving me and lending me the breath to live, and to praise You with that life.  Help me today to use this breath and the life it affords to love You and love others.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Enjoy this video and the transcript below!

Video 9.3 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.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
  And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In response to His love displayed on Calvary, we commit to love Him not only as long as we live, but even as we die.  He loved us this way, so loving Him in kind is the very least we can do. Ask Jesus to help you love Him, whether living or dying.

He is the source of life.  If you draw another breath, it is because He chose to lend the air to you and enable your lungs to take it in.  As you take your next breath, thank Jesus for it, and ask Him for the ability to praise Him every one you take.

I love how many hymns have no trouble addressing the reality of death.  This idea of moisture, possibly perspiration, on the forehead of someone facing death is an unusual visual, but suffice it to say, there is a resolve as to what will be on his lips even then.  Are you so resolved?

And here is our repeated refrain, growing in intensity through the stanzas, from that decision to first love, to love in response to the cross, and now even at death.  The words on the lips of the genuine worshipper at every circumstance of life, “Jesus, I love you.” Echo them 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
Life and Death – https://pixabay.com/vectors/adult-age-baby-child-death-human-2028245/
Praise Thee  – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-happiness-sunrise-silhouette-570883/
Breath – https://pixabay.com/vectors/lungs-human-anatomy-bronchia-296392/

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
  And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
  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.  

We began our look into this timeless hymn last week.  You can find that first post here.   This week we examine the act which demonstrated God’s love for us and illicits our response.  In each of those “now” moments, we are given a number of different things to ponder.  Let’s tune our hearts.

I Love Thee Because…

This second stanza expands on the now of the historical event that made our redemption possible: God’s demonstration of love for us on the cross.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8 ESV

We did not have to get our act together.  We did not even need an awareness of God or His great love for us.  While we were still in sin, the Father sent His one and only Son to die for us.

The hymn puts the emphasis where it belongs, on God’s initiating, unmerited love, not our responding, grateful love.  If God had not moved toward us, we simply would never have taken the initiative.  Even if we had, we could have never reached Him, because our sin had so separated us from Him.  Our sin had left us with a debt we could never pay.  Fortunately for us, God’s love came to pay the debt in full.

Purchased My Pardon

The Scripture says it best.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Our sin had earned us death, a debt only satisfied with a life.  It should have been ours, but instead Jesus offered His perfect life, “once for all”.  Romans 6:10

I think this is a difficult concert to grasp, even when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the reality of it.  Though we acknowledge our utter need for a Savior when we yield our lives to Christ, I think we will be amazed at how bad our situation was when we stand before the throne and see others do the same, only to find that dependency on Christ work alone makes all the difference.

Think of it this way.  Every time you sin you are charging things to your account.  Unfortunately, we you get to the end of the billing cycle and your statement arrives, you realize there is not only no way you can pay for your usage that month, you can not repay any portion of the the debt at all, ever.  One swipe caused your account to be in default, and yet unbeknownst to you, you kept charging.

Only the Holy Spirit can reveal this situation to you and the remedy.  Trusting Christ to redeem every bit requires faith, and even that is a gift.  But it is important to remember, Jesus did not wipe out your debt.  He paid it in full, at great cost to Himself.

 

Calvary’s Tree

And just exactly how did He purchase our pardon?

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Galatians 3:13 ESV

Let’s change the imagery a bit here to help us reconsider just how significant this becoming a curse truly was.

This quote comes from Deuteronomy 21:22, but the even more interesting reality is the context for it.

The imagery that is evoked here is that of the Canaanite kings who were hung on tress as a part of the conquest of the Promised Land by the people of Israel.  Not just anyone was hung on a tree, but those who were significant symbols of the wrath of God pouring out.  Christ is likened to them, and that is not a pleasant association.  You can read more about this in this short article, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. 

Recap:  God loved us first.  He demonstrated that by purchasing our pardon when He became a curse for us.  The only right response to that kind of love is love.

Though there is no simple method which provides immediate financial debt relief, there is one way to accomplish immediate, total spiritual debt forgiveness.  Respond today to the free gift Jesus offers.  Then determine to life your life loving Jesus.  We will help you remove hindrances to such a life by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Immediate and Continual Tuning!

Jesus, in response to Your great love for me which I could have never earned, I commit to love you, right now and forever. Thank You for purchasing my pardon by becoming a curse for me.  I can never repay the debt of love owed by this grateful heart, but I will live my life to reflect that love to everyone willing to acknowledge it.  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 9.2 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 love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
  And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Here is a key truth. Our love is always a response to the love Christ has first shown us.  He initiates, moves toward us, makes a way for us to approach, and we simply respond. Ask God to help you maintain this humble perspective and motivate your response of love.  

He revealed His love by becoming a curse for us, dying on the cross, taking the punishment for all our wrongs.  Thank Jesus for purchasing your pardon by sacrificing His perfect life for the sins of the world, including yours. 

The Eternal King willingly laid down His life, stepping into those moments of beating and mockery, to leave no doubt of His great love for us.  Think on those hours from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross of Golgotha, and give Him praise. 

When we consider the lengths to which Jesus went to demonstrate His love for us, we are compelled to love Him.  Reflect on those times when you have been overcome with sorrow for all He endured or you, and respond in these moments by renewing your love.

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
First Loved Me – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/heart-love-romance-symbol-598048/
Purchased My Pardon – https://pixabay.com/photos/credit-card-master-card-visa-card-1520400/
Calvary’s Tree – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-religion-jesus-christ-calvary-1872550/

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.

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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.

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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/