Wednesday Wanderings is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.
Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.
Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey and examine one word: transcendent.
PREPARATION: In our last Wandering, we considered the R.E.A.L. friendship. This week we will consider the transcendent quality of God’s holiness. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”
PROMISE: Psalm 46:4 (ESV)
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
The city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. This is the setting of our hymn this week. And I would like you to imagine the river whose streams make glad that is city flow as the holiness of God pours forth from His eternal throne. Think about how powerful a river is, and how it can wash away whatever stands in its path. These qualities are true of God’s holiness and we are going to allow our imagining of a river of holiness to lift our understanding of this transcendent quality of God.
PSALM: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty originally was written by Reginald Heber in 1826.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
A river is powerful. But a river in the city of the Lord God Almighty…how powerful might that me. Especially a river that makes the city glad. Let’s wander along that river.
PARABLE:
So the image above depicts a river flowing through a city. Often cities are built around bodies of water. They were used for transport and commerce as well as a source of water which is crucial to life. It is no surprise then that a river would be the source of gladness in the city of God.
But let us imagine in the city of God that this river is not an ordinary river. The wording of this Scripture can be taken a couple ways.
- That the city of God is the holy habitation
- That the river is the holy habitation
I think both may be true.
Certainly the former is, but what if the second is as well. What if this river flowing through the city is in and of itself a holy habitation of the Most High? What if God dwells in the river and spreads something of Himself as far as its streams flow? What if everywhere those streams go there is a gladness that flows forth from God that can be replicated in nothing else? What if His holiness is conveyed in those waters?
Imagine walking beside such a powerful river. Imagine how refreshing it would be to quench the thirst of your soul with its waters. Imagine how restoring it would be to immerse yourself fully in its cleaning flow.
Are you getting the picture? What is keeping your from wading into this river? The current may seem overwhelming, but it is safe. Take a few moments and put your toes in. Then your ankles. Go as far as you are comfortable. Thank God for the access He has provided through His Son, and go deep if you are willing. Let is sweep you along as you soak in the gladness of the Lord God Almighty.
PONDER and WANDER:
If you choose, Ponder the questions: What is keeping me from stepping into the river? How might I go a little deeper today?
Soul care training exercise:
Imagine you are on the banks of this cleansing river. Jesus has brought you to it and made it accessible to you. All you have to do is step in. Maybe your river looks a little different that the one above. Maybe it looks more like the one below. Close your eyes and imagine Jesus inviting you to step into that river with Him. Take some time to consider this exercise.
-
River Take time to still your soul and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Ask Him to let you see what might be keeping you dry.
- Is it the expectations of others?
- Is it your own complacency?
- Is it a lack of faith in its power?
- Is it something else.
- Look at the river. Do you realize you have access to it? There is nothing stopping you. The Lamb of God has paid the price and you can enter. Will you step into it today?
- How will you take that next step into the river today and find cleansing?
PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for leading me to this powerful cleansing river that is the holiness of God. I could never have found it without Your help, and could never have accessed it without Your sacrifice. Empower me to step into it early every day, and then abide in it. I can not do this on my own. Thank You in advance for helping me. Amen.
PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your soul of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for the river of His holiness. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.
Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.
Until next time, be Resonant.
The post Wading into a River of Holiness appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image attributions:
River City – https://pixabay.com/photos/budapest-bridge-water-chain-bridge-525857/
River – https://pixabay.com/photos/autumn-landscape-nature-golden-219972/
Scott,
Wonderful wandering!
Thank you for this vivid image of the cleansing river of Jesus. As I invited His Presence and we stepped into the river, it was the Jordan River in Israel. I saw the bank of the river and I saw Jesus standing way out in the river beckoning me to join Him. When I did step in, I was transported in the heavens and I was on the plane to Rwanda. Thank you for strengthening my faith to walk deeper into the vision of where Christ is already standing! I want to be drenched in trust and faith that where He is leading me, I will follow!