I could not love Thee,
so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises
fell not to me.
Then without warning,
desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure,
my pleasure, in Thee.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

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

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast 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 podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

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

We continue our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s think about this.

God Took Initiative

The last half of this stanza reminds me of the words of a song I learned several years ago.

You did not wait for me to draw near to You
but You clothed yourself with frail humanity
You did not wait for me to cry out to You
but You let me hear Your voice calling me “Forever Grateful” by Mark Altrogge

It expresses in a very descriptive way the incredible reality that God took the initiative to deal with our separation from Him. Before we could even become aware of our need for a Savior, and certainly long before we even cared, Jesus made the way for us to have a restored relationship to the Father. We did not deserve it, or even desire it, yet without warning God stepped into time and space and changed everything.

Then without warning,
desire, or deserving,

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 ESV

He shed His blood on the cross and established a new covenant for all those who place their trust in Him.  They placed the crown of thorns on His head and nailed Him to the tree, but only so that He could accomplish redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Every single one of us was in the same hopeless position until His cross.

RESONATE!
Ponder that for a few moments. Before you desired redemption, before you could have attempted to earn it, even before you realized you eve n needed it, He provided. He took the initiative in redemption. Think about that, and then take a few moments to express Your gratitude to Jesus for His initiative. 

I Humbly Responded

After purchasing our redemption on the cross, Jesus then revealed it to us, and gave us the faith to respond. How kind! The chorus of “Forever Grateful” delineates the only appropriate response to what Jesus did for us.

And I’m forever grateful, Lord, to You.
And I’m forever grateful for the cross.
And I’m forever grateful to You
That You came to seek and save the lost.

Eternal gratitude. That’s it. Finding in Christ an unspeakable Treasure, and joys forevermore.

I found my Treasure,
my pleasure, in Thee.

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:4 ESV

Not only can we now draw near but we are changed at our very core to be characterized by the nature of God. That allows us to escape the corruption that plagues the world due to sinful desire. What an incredible promise! Oh for the grace to live it out today and every day for the rest of eternity!

He has become our Treasure and our pleasure. How? Simply by inviting us into His life through His death and resurrection. Are you pursuing a soul-satisfying relationship with Jesus or are other things distracting You?

RESONATE!
Is it easy to become distracted by things that are lessor treasures than knowing Jesus and living for Him. Ask Him today to help you see Him for the Treasure He is. That is the beginning. Then follow it up by asking Him to help you live it out today. 

Father, thank You for expressing Your faithfulness by initiating redemption. How kind of You to do that. Give me the faith every day to respond in a way that brings glory to Your name and reveals Your faithfulness through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Then Without Warning, Desire or Deserving – https://pixabay.com/photos/thorn-crown-nails-jesus-christ-4265860/
I Found My Treasure, My Pleasure in Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-god-gospel-bible-3279880/

I could not love Thee,
so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises
fell not to me.
Then without warning,
desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure,
my pleasure, in Thee.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

Listen to this modern version of this popular hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 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 popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s tune our hearts.

Unloving

There are any number of things that can impair our ability to discern the faithfulness of God. It can be challenging for us to see it plainly in a normal year, but one marked by a pandemic and social unrest certainly adds to the the difficulty. The pains and problems of our lives can cover or cloud God’s work in us in the midst of them.

This struggle is real for those who have found rest with God, but especially for those who have not. The former may struggle to see and feel it, but the latter simply can not. Until that moment of surrender and the epiphany which follows, we lack the capacity to fathom the work and wonder of the Lord.

Can you recall what that was like? The before, as well as the after? The writer refers to our state before God as blind and unfeeling. Sounds about right to me.

I could not love Thee,
so blind and unfeeling;

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. Romans 3:10-11 ESV

It is both painful and needful to acknowledge this reality. We were blind and cold toward God, so was our disposition in sin. We could not love Him, nor did we care to. We must acknowledge this in order to receive by grace His faithfulness to us. Have you done so? If not, take a few moments below to walk through that confession.

If you have done that before, rekindle that flame. It is hard to admit that not only did we not love God, but we possessed no capacity to do so until He gave it to us. We were incapable of seeing or feeling His love. That is our state apart from Him. It is important to remember that sometime.

RESONATE!
We must start with that humble confession. If you have never acknowledged your desperate need for God and how separated you were from Him do it today. Your desire to do so alone is evidence of His work in you for you could not ever seek Him on your own. If you have acknowledged that before take a moment to recall what feeling was like by simply asking Him, “Lord, help me recall my helpless state apart from You.” We will address that feeling or lack thereof as we go through this stanza.

But Not Unloved

My lack of capacity to love God was solely based on my lack of knowledge that He had first loved me. How kind of Him to reveal that love to me, and in that moment also the capacity to respond to it. Until then I did not even realize what I was missing.

Covenant promises
fell not to me.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 ESV

Our sin had separated us from God and accordingly all the promises that He offers to those who believe and place their faith in the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son. You too were once outside of this covenant, outside of His glory.

Hopeless. We were hopeless before God made His promises known to us. Oh, we may have tried to find some hope in our abilities or resources, but true, lasting and eternal hope was unattainable. Can you remember what it felt like to only have the fleeting hope of this life?

He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son to create a path of faith. A path that leads us into a place where His promises fall on us. That place is a place of hope and rest.

RESONATE!
Again take a moment to allow the Spirit to remind you the feeling of this life’s fleeting hope. Then ask Him to show you anew eternity’s lasting hope. Finally, thank Him for revealing that hope to you.

Spirit, thank You for Your work in opening my blind eyes and warming my soul to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone. Help me to walk in that hope everyday, and use me to help others see it and feel it as you work through me. I want as many as possible to see and feel what You have shown to me.  In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Grateful 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 46.5 Transcript, 23.3 Reframed

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 could not love Thee,
so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises
fell not to me.
Then without warning,
desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure,
my pleasure, in Thee.

It is hard to admit that not only did we not love God, but we possessed no capacity to do so until He gave it to us. We were incapable of seeing or feeling His love. That is our state apart from Him. Take a moment to recall what that was like.

Lord, help me recall my helpless state apart from You.

Hopeless. We were hopeless before God made His promises known to us. Oh, we may have tried to find some hope in our abilities or resources, but true, lasting and  eternal hope was unattainable. Can you remember what it felt like to only have the fleeting hope of this life?

Spirit, remind me of the feeling of this life’s fleeting hope.

Before we could even become aware of how desperate our situation was Jesus made a way for us to receive His great and precious promises. We had not desired them and certainly did not deserve them yet He offered. Thank Him for taking the initiative in redemption.

Jesus, thank You for initiating redemption.

He has become our Treasure and our pleasure. How? Simply by inviting us into His life through His death and resurrection. Are you pursuing a soul-satisfying relationship with Jesus or are other things distracting You? Ask Him today to help you see Him for the Treasure He is.

God, help me see You for the Treasure You are.

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 Can You See God’s Faithfulness? REPOST appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
I Could Not Thee So Blind and Unfeeling – https://pixabay.com/photos/coronavirus-mask-corona-virus-5154115/
Covenant Promises Fell Not To Me – https://pixabay.com/photos/bible-hand-designate-read-1089968/

I have no merit
to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom
or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy,
how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure:
 that Thou art my joy. 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

Listen to this modern version of this popular hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 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 popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s tune our hearts.

Turkish Delight

If something has “delight” in its name, you would immediately be led to believe it is probably pretty, well….delightful right?

I think I first heard of Turkish Delight when I read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” as a child. Edmund had found his way through a wardrobe into an enchanted snow-blanketed wood when along came a horse-drawn carriage. I could not understand how he would be so easily lured into it by a confection, but pleasure can be like that, a little irrational.

For those unfamiliar with Edmund’s favorite sweet, Turkish Delight (or Lokum) is a family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often flavored with rosewater, mastic, Bergamot orange, or lemon. Though that all sounds very good, Edmund’s response to the offer of it from the White Witch still did not make sense to me.

There is a sense in which the opening lines of this stanza may have the same effect on some, albeit with the opposite effect. There is nothing in me that delights God? Is He like a fickle child, waiting for the right combination of starch and sugar to come galloping by?

Hardly. But it does reveal a few things about our understanding of our pleasure and God’s. This stanza does two things. It reminds us of our inability to please God, and of His desire to change that.

I have no merit
to woo or delight Thee,

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8 ESV

Though we do not like to admit our utter depravity, we must remember that to do so makes even more of the faithfulness of God. There was nothing in us that deserved the grace He has poured out on us, and until He did we could not please Him, not in the least. There are simply not enough pistachios and walnuts in the world to change our standing before God. Until there is more to us than the flesh, we simply can not please Him.

Fortunately for us, that is not the end of the story.

To woo is to gain the love of someone. To delight is to please someone greatly. There is nothing in me that can evoke either of these feelings in the heart of my God. While that is a sad reality it is important to acknowledge and in so doing highlight His mercy.

I do think it is important to notice the sequence. I can not gain His love. I cannot even please Him greatly. Yet, that is the word that starts the second half of this stanza and explains the difference God made in our dire circumstance, and how. We will go there on in our next Thursday Thoughts, but first we must examine a few other areas we may be inclined to think could be used to incline God’s affection toward us.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

RESONATE!
The beginning of intimacy with God starts with honesty. We must acknowledge before God, confess or agree with Him about our helpless, hopeless condition. We could not make Him love us, or even please Him greatly, while we operated solely in our flesh. Take a moment to thank Him for revealing this to you, for until you saw this clearly, you simply were not able to please Him. 

I Have No…

This acknowledgement reminds me of a line from another of my favorite stories, “The Lord of the Rings”. The wizard Gandalf  is leading the little party through the mines of Moria and comes to a fork in the road. He had studied and memorized many things that had gotten them this far but at this moment he humbly confesses, “I have no memory of this place.” How many travelers would benefit from their leader doing the same?

Gandalf the Gray knew many things, but he also knew his limitations. His followers benefitted from that many times. We would benefit from the same humble acknowledgement.

Gandalf ends up being called Gandalf the Wise, and there is only one way for us to earn the same moniker.

I have no wisdom
or pow’rs to employ;

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, Jeremiah 9:23 ESV

We may have some abilities, all having come to us from the gracious hand of God, yet none of them are enough to overcome the separation caused by our sin. We could fashion no way back to Him. Why would we even try?

There is a way for us to enjoy the faithfulness of God, but it hinges on our willingness to acknowledge we have no memory of how to do so, and no power to bridge the chasm between us. You can fill in the sentence with any other number of things, “I have no….”, but they are still only part of the equation. We will examine the most important part, God’s contribution, in the latter half of the stanza.

RESONATE!
Thank God for the gifts of wisdom and power and whatever else He has given you. There are expressions of His kindness to you. But then thank Him for the revelation they were not enough to redeem you. Thank Him for the ability to acknowledge your shortcomings, but most of all for the knowledge of Him.

Father, thank You for all the things You have deposited into my life, the way You have fashioned me. Thank You for the humility to confess even they would never be enough to earn your love or affection. Thank You most of all for the knowledge of Your faithfulness revealed to me by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Humble 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 46.4 Transcript, 23.4 Reframed

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 have no merit
to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom
or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy,
how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure:
 that Thou art my joy. 

To woo, to gain the love of someone. To delight, to please someone greatly. There is nothing in me that can evoke either of these feelings in the heart of my God. While that is a sad reality it is important to acknowledge and in so doing highlight His mercy. Acknowledge your lack of merit.

God, I confess I have nothing to merit your affection.

We may have some abilities, all having come to us from the gracious hand of God, yet none of them are enough to overcome the separation caused by our sin. We could fashion no way back to Him. Thank Him for those gifts and the revelation they were not enough to redeem you.

Lord, thank You my capacities, but most of all for the knowledge of you.

Even still, the Lord makes a way for me to be found pleasing to Him. None of that lies with me.  It is His mercy, not getting what we deserve. It is all His work, so none can boast, other than boasting in Him. Make your boast in Him today, then repeat that every day, for eternity. 

Spirit, help me boast in God today, and forever.

To find eternal joy in God is the greatest blessing this life affords. What is more, it is difficult for us to fathom that there is nothing that gives God greater pleasure than for us to find that joy. Marvel at that incredible mystery again today and rest in it, in Him.

Jesus, thank You for the joy I have in You, and the pleasure it is to 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 Whoa! No Merit to Woo? Nope. REPOST appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
I Have No Merit to Woo or Delight Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/turkish-delight-süßigkeit-meals-5034986/
I Have No Wisdom or Powers to Employ – https://pixabay.com/photos/wizard-gandalf-lego-magic-sorcerer-2021410/

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 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!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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

As we conclude our journey through this carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s tune our hearts.

Grace and Truth

One without the other is awful, or a complete mess. These two pillars create a balanced structure from which Jesus rules the world. We read it from the very first words John uses to describe the Messiah, the anointed One of God.

He rules the world with truth and grace

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14, 17 ESV

Effectively grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. He is full of grace and truth and so He rules the world from that position. He came and dwelt among us and will return to complete the work of redemption that His work on the cross accomplished. Hallelujah!

How is His rule evident in Your life? How are you allowing grace and truth to be seen in your actions? If someone took a close look at your life would they see a balance of these two virtues, or an imbalance with one overshadowing the other?

If Jesus ruled with only one of these pillars His rule may be imbalanced. Truth might make Him too harsh because of all our failings. Grace might require Him to compromise His holiness and accept without dealing with our sin. Instead these two realities balance His infinite authority.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about how Jesus life and ministry demonstrated a balance of grace and truth. IF you have surrendered your life to Him to rule, these virtues should be evident in you. Make this your simple prayer “God, rule my life with grace and truth.” 

Vindication

The nations of the world have profaned the great name of God. The individuals of those nations have not rightly dealt with His name, showing it and Him the honor it/He deserves. Because of this, God has promised to vindicate the holiness of His name. To make them prove it. Now that is authority.

And makes the nations prove

…I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:23 ESV

Vindication is proving that something is right. This verse inspires this line by taking the words of the Lord and declaring what He will in fact do just that. He is holy and great. His rule will establish and prove those things among all the nations of the world.

This balance not only gives me confidence that He will deal with me with equity, but it informs how He will deal with all the nations of the world. He will vindicate the holiness of His great name which has been profaned among them. He has promised and He will do it.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the holiness of His name. We do not always treat it with the honor it deserves. Ask Him for His help in proving it by praying a simple prayer like this one, “Lord, vindicate Your holy name.“  

Jesus, thank You ruling with truth and grace. The rule has established the holiness of Your great name, Help me work to vindicate it by the way I live. In Jesus’ name. 

Vindicated 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 47.4 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.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

If He ruled with only one of these pillars His rule may be imbalanced. Truth might make Him too harsh because of all our failings. Grace might require Him to compromise His holiness and accept without dealing with our sin. Instead these two realities balance His infinite authority.

God, rule my life with grace and truth.

This balance not only gives me confidence that He will deal with me with equity, but it informs how He will deal with all the nations of the world. He will vindicate the holiness of His great name which has been profaned among them. He has promised and He will do it.

Lord, vindicate Your holy name.

There is a glory to His righteousness. We do not think about this much but we are dealing with One who eternally is without fault or blemish. He only does right. Though we know this is true it is difficult for our minds to comprehend, living in a world where wrong is so common.

Father, show us the glories of Your righteousness.

And His rightness required that He make a way to deal with our wrongness. His doing so through the sending of our Savior reveals the wonder of His love. While we were separated from Him He made a way for us to come back to Him through His sacrifice. What joy!

Jesus, show us the wonders of 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.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

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 Proving His Truth and Grace appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
He rules the world with truth and grace – https://pixabay.com/photos/portal-columns-architecture-3254433/
And makes the nations prove – https://pixabay.com/photos/social-media-icon-people-2537391/

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as far as the curse is found

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. 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!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

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

As we continue our journey through this carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s tune our hearts.

Sins and Sorrows

The reason we call the earth to sing with joy is because of what Jesus set in motion when He came. Since the Garden of Eden mankind has lived under a curse. In the garden sin was sown, and we have been reaping sorrow ever since.

These twin torments of sin and sorrow have grown over those milennia to the point that it might seem they will eventually consume mankind. That is, until Jesus arrived. He changed the course of human history when He came as King, though an infant in a manger.

No more let sins and sorrows grow

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; Genesis 3:17 ESV

It all started in a garden. Though given the freedom to live in God’s presence, Adam and Eve were deceived into trying to be like God. Sin and sorrow were ushered in with that decision but the Father made a way to reverse the curse, sending His only Son to redeem us.

Those sins and sorrows took root in the garden and have continued to grow since then. How have you seen them grow in your life? Maybe there is a pattern that is difficult for you to break. Some besetting sin, or some sorrow that seems inescapable. May it be no more.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about the sins and sorrows that are a part of your life. Are you aware of them? Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, reveal my sinful, sorrowful patterns.” 

Thorns

Those sins and sorrows create a treacherous garden. It is one filled with trouble and pain. Some of those thorns we have allowed, but others were planted their unbeknownst to us, through the actions of others.

Part of the curse of that first sin in the garden is that thorns and thistles will be present in our gardens. There is a virtual infestation to be dealt with and we are all but powerless against it. We must be careful on this ground.

Nor thorns infest the ground

Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. Genesis 3:18 ESV

We are all well aware of the futility of our labors. We sow with the hope of reaping, and weeds show up seemingly out of nowhere, but they are the result of the Fall. You may have done nothing to welcome them but there they are. What thorns are present in your life right now?

Some of our struggles threaten to injure us further or stifle our vibrancy. Can you identify the thorns in your life? What may poke or choke you if you are not careful. If you do not identify and deal with them they can literally kill you. Ask Jesus to help you root them out.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the thorns in your life. Some may be the result of your choices, but certainly no all of them. Ask Him for His help by praying a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, help me root out the thorns in my life.“  

Jesus, thank You for teaching me about gardens: those that have been and those that will be. Help me work on my garden even as I wait for a better one. Thank You for the promise of the on to come. In Jesus’ name. 

Diligent 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 47.3 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.

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as far as the curse is found

Those sins and sorrows took root in the garden and have continued to grow since then. How have you seen them grow in your life? Maybe there is a pattern that is difficult for you to break. Some besetting sin, or some sorrow that seems inescapable. May it be no more.

Spirit, reveal my sinful, sorrowful patterns.

Some of our struggles threaten to injury us further or stifle our vibrancy. Can you identify the thorns in your life? What may poke or choke you if you are not careful. If you do not identify and deal with them they can literally kill you. Ask Jesus to help you rot them out.

Jesus, help me rot out the thorns in my life.

Thanks be to God that Jesus has a different plan for the garden of our lives. He wants blessings to flow instead of curses. He has already done the significant work required to make that possible, but we have to partner with Him. Will you prepare for your garden work?

Lord, help me prepare for my garden work.

His intent is there will be no thorns in our gardens. He will make it so one day. Until then we can labor with Him to remove thorns and create a scenario in which blessings flow. But please note, this is not easy work and must be engaged in regularly for those thorns are insidious.

God, help me tend my garden regularly.

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.

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as far as the curse is found

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 Rooting Out Sins and Sorrows Like Thorns appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
No more let sins and sorrows grow – https://pixabay.com/photos/gardening-garden-weed-pluck-3296781/
Nor thorns infest the ground – https://pixabay.com/photos/thorns-thorny-sharp-nature-desert-419688/