My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Listen to this beautiful version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  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 complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

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

We continue our journey through one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring, stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. Wellness of soul was made available when Jesus fulfilled the righteous deeds of the law. Let’s tune our hearts.

To Miss the Mark

The stanza focuses on the effect that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has on our soul’s wellness. He satisfied the law’s demands by becoming sin for us. Let’s make sure we understand what sin is.

To sin effectively means to miss the mark, like missing the bullseye in archery. In spiritual or bilabial terms, it means to fall short of God’s commands, literally an immoral act considered to be a transgression of divine law. Simply, Jesus said to love God and love others, so, any action that does not fulfill those demands could be considered sin. Here is an interesting video that illustrates this.

We all sin. We all fall short of the mark of the God’s righteousness. But thanks be to God, there is a remedy for sin.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:7-8 ESV

So let’s spend a little bit of time thinking about this. It is a glorious thought, indeed, that we can walk in the light and have fellowship with God, all because the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sin. The bliss is the great joy that aptly describes what we feel when we realize we are free in Christ from the crushing weight of sin. Unfortunately, we grow accustomed to the bliss, so let’s do a little exercise.

RESONATE!
I do not want you to entertain the paths of sin, even in your thought life, but I want to invite you to take a quick inventory. What sins trouble you? Anger, malice, envy, jealousy, lying, stealing, covetousness, etc. Think of what you have struggled with or maybe are still struggling with and make a mental list. We will deal with it below.

Every Miss, Covered

Now bring to mind not only that brief inventory, but every sin: past, present and future. All of them are dealt with by our gracious Lord. Every time we have ever missed the mark of God’s righteousness, the cross of Christ has addressed it. Not just some of the misses, but every single one. 

My sin, not in part but the whole,

This is truly remarkable. God’s grace has no bounds. We simply must confess that we have missed the mark, and He forgives and cleanses. More than that, it is as if He takes our misses and not only puts them on the target, but makes them bullseyes. He sees us through the perfection of His Son.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESV

You probably believe that but take a minute to let it soak in. Deep down in your soul. Nothing you have ever done is too far off the target for God to cover, if you will humble yourself and confess it. He has done all the work. You simply need to ask.

RESONATE!
So do you have any asking to do? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. We are forgiven when we surrender our lives to Christ and ask, but we should also learn the freedom of asking God to forgive us any other times the Spirit brings conviction. We have been invited to walk in the light. Whenever you become aware of any darkness, confess it so you can walk in His forgiveness. Make this a way of life.

Jesus, thank You for dealing with all the times I have missed the mark of righteousness. I have sinned, but You have forgiven me and cleansed me. Teach me how to walk in the light and confess my sin whenever You shine Your light on it. 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 18.3 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.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Truly the first three lines of this stanza are one thought, with the fourth being the only appropriate response. This is a glorious thought, not our sin, but that it is taken care of completely. Do a quick inventory of your sins just the last few hours or days. 

Now bring to mind not only that brief inventory but every sin past, present and future, all of them, all dealt with by our gracious Lord. Wellness of soul can only be enjoyed when the sickness of soul caused by sin is remedied. Ask the Spirit to apply that remedy again today.

Every sin we have ever committed, in word, thought, and deed – the entire terrible record – is nailed to the cross which satisfies the legal demands of the law. We bear it no more. It is just as if we had never sinned. Thank Jesus for taking the punishment you deserved.

This last phrase is a quote of Psalm 146:1. We echo the psalmist’s instruction to our own souls, for they can be fickle at times and our forgiving God is worthy of praise. Instruct your soul to praise the name of Your Redeemer today and evey 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

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 What To Do When You Miss the Mark? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Both images captured from this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn-MxtZLxI8

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Listen to this beautiful version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  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 complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

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

We continue our journey through one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring, stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. Wellness of soul is able to be maintained when we learn how to find confidence in Christ to overcome temptations and trials. Let’s tune our hearts.

Rising Above the Waves

In the first stanza, we pondered how to achieve and maintain wellness when sorrows like sea billows roll. Let’s continue that oceanic imagery as we consider how Satan buffets us and trials come. Like the ship in the storm above, each of us faces difficulties that threaten to undo us at times by unraveling our confidence in God. We must prepare for those challenges before they come.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Have you ever considered the possibility that, even when Satan harasses and trials come, God may have allowed or even designed them for our good? This can be a hard pill to swallow, but if we are able to comes to terms with this, it will give us a perspective that allows us to see them very differently. Think about Paul’s words here, and remember from the previous stanza how we considered his resolve to be content in every circumstance.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

Wow! Could God be allowing Satan to harass you and other trials to come to keep you humbly growing in your trust in Him? This is not just likely, it is probable.

Though you feel like that ship above, tossed and thrown about through the tempest, you can remain on top of the waves no matter what comes, if you can cultivate a measure of inner peace and wellness. How do we do that? We look to the One who makes the difference in every circumstance, for He is for us, not against us. More on that below, but first…

RESONATE!
Name the tempests you find yourself in today, the trials and tests, whether from the tempter or elsewhere. Identifying the challenges we face is an important part of overcoming them. Once you have named them, bring them to God. He wants to help you. Make the list of the things that are creating havoc in your heart, and we will deal with them in our next section. For now, ask God to give you His perspective on each of them.

By Anchoring In Christ

Let this blest assurance control,

Later in this stanza, we will look more closely at exactly what assurance the hymn writer is talking about, but for now, look at that anchor.  Until I went searching for an image for anchor in this context, it had never occurred to me how most anchors have a cross in them. Though uncertain about the reasons for this, it certainly makes sense from our perspective. After all, look at these words.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, Hebrews 6:19 ESV

When the tempests rage and the trails come, they fight against the sure and steadfast anchor of our souls, the hope we have in the cross and what Christ accomplished there. Like the chain that connects our soul to Christ, the Holy Spirit reminds us of that sure and steadfast hope as often as we have need to be reminded.  Our blest assurance is the cross of Jesus, and the presence it promises us, even in the midst of our trials.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 ESV

Things get dark at times, but we need not fear any evil for the cross convinces us of Christ’s comfort in affliction. What a Good Shepherd He is to us, bringing confidence even into our suffering. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak that assurance to you today, especially if you are feeling the darkness of some current valley, or ocean floor. 

RESONATE!
Do you have this assurance? Have you yielded your life to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to become the anchor for your soul? If not, do it today. If you have, thank Him for being that anchor, and commit to staying connected to Him with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, thank You for being the anchor for my soul. The wellness I experience flows from that hope. Whenever I feel it slipping away, may Your Spirit connect me to it once again. All my hope is in You, Jesus. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Content 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 18.2 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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Satan buffets or afflicts and harms us repeatedly along our journey with Christ. Trials certainly come, some brought on by our choices and some by others. Trouble is a companion to all, but God desires to use it to bring us to Himself. Ask Him to clarify that perspective of yours. 

John 3:36 says “anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life”. That is our assurance. We face difficulties, but we do so against the backdrop of the cross and all Jesus accomplished there. Ask God to help you use that assurance to control you today, and in every trial.

Helpless. We do not like to admit that, but our sin has made it so. It separates us from God with no hope of bridging the chasm it created…but for Christ. He regarded our helpless position or estate. Thank Him for the cross again today, and how it demonstrates His regard for us.

“Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13. There was no better way Jesus could express His regard for our helpless estate than what He did on the cross. It accomplished eternal wellness for our souls. Give Him praise now and always!

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

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 How to Keep Your Soul Anchored appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Though Trials Should Come – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ship-sailing-vessel-old-pirate-ship-2275399/
This Blessed Assurance – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/anchor-sea-cross-religion-661991/

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It Is Well with My Soul (1873)

By: Horatio G. Spafford, (1828-1888)

Listen to this beautiful version as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  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 complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

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

We begin our journey through one of the most beloved of all hymns, with one of the most poignant, yet inspiring stories. If you do not know the story, you may watch more about it here. Wellness of soul has been made available by our gracious God, and we will look at different aspects of that over the next few weeks, starting with the teachers of peace and sorrow. Let’s tune our hearts.

Peace Like a River

It is captivating when a writer begins to expound on something by drawing us in with such a welcoming word picture. The inspiring photo above from Scandinavia, or whatever other image those words conjure in your mind, creates a tranquil and serene setting to begin to contemplate wellness of soul.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

Those words remind me of the passage from Psalm 23 where the Psalmist tells me His shepherd leads him beside still waters, restoring his soul. God made a similar promise to the city of Jerusalem, and by association, its inhabitants. Rivers are such wonderful illustrations of the flow of God’s peace into our lives.

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream… Isaiah 66:12a ESV

But knowing that peace has been promised and learning to walk in the experience of it are two very different things. We know that God extends to us, His people, the same peace He offered to Jerusalem. Figuring out how to receive it and trusting God to sustain it is a process into which He welcomes each of us.

RESONATE!
First, we must believe that God invites us into this process of walking in peace. Once you have resolved that issue, and are confident that God is the one who brings that peace, you are able to take that same awareness of His presence into other moments in your life. Thank Him for the wellness of soul He helps to cultivate in moments of peace.

Sorrows Like Sea Billows

There is an uncommon word. Billows. A billow is a large undulating mass of something. Seems like an apt description of the sorrows that at times come upon our lives, doesn’t it?

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

We have all had those experiences of sorrows that overwhelm us. Think back on the last time you experienced that. Maybe you don’t have to think back very far at all. Maybe you are trying to stand amidst the waves of sorrows today.

Maybe you brought those sorrows upon yourself through your own choices. Maybe they were thrust upon you by the choices of others. Either way, they are overwhelming and heavy.

Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah Psalm 88:7 ESV

It is a difficult truth to consider that just as God ushers peace into our lives at times, He also allows sorrows at other times. There is a purpose in both, and the sooner we learn that reality the better by far.

It is easy for us to acknowledge that God is the Author of our peaceful moments. It is not so easy for us to acknowledge that He is also the Sovereign over the sorrowful  ones. Grasping and keeping in balance those two realities helps us to create a scenario where wellness of soul is much more sustainable.

RESONATE!
What sorrows are you facing today? Have you brought them to God? Ask Him to help you deal with them against the backdrop of an awareness that He is very present with you in each of those troubles. Your ability to cultivate wellness in your soul will be dependent on how pervasive that awareness is. Ask Him to help you embrace it and expand it today.

Jesus, thank You for being present in my peace and my sorrow. It is Your presence that makes the difference in every circumstance. Help me to learn the reality of that today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Content 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 18.1 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.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Recall a time when peace was flowing into your life like the faithful current of a great river. What a powerful and beautiful companion peace is! Thank God for those times when His peace has attended or accompanied you along your way.  

Recall a time when sorrows seemed to be overwhelming you like the mighty waves of the ocean. What a terrible and painful sojourner sorrows are! Ask God to help you be aware of His presence when you face your next sorrows.

Indeed, God has taught us to declare the wellness of our soul no matter what our circumstances. Let’s be honest, that is not always an easy thing to do, but He will help us. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how today.

In Philippians 4:12, Paul declared, “In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content…” I would have to be honest and say I am learning it but I certainly have not mastered it. Reflect on how well you have learned to say “It is well.”

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

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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 Through Peace and Sorrows appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Peace Like a River – https://pixabay.com/photos/scandinavia-norway-briksdal-glacier-5214176/
Sorrows Like Sea Billows – https://pixabay.com/photos/wave-water-sea-ocean-pacific-2089959/