Proverbs 3:5-6 amplified

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
⁶ In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way waters.

Our trust in God is based on His identity. He is Adonai, Yahweh, Jehovah.  Period.

PSALM: O Worship the King 1561
William Kethe (?-1594); Robert Grant (1779-1838)

Frail children of dust and feeble as frail
In thee do we trust nor find Thee to fail
Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end
Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend

Grant proclaims that God’s mercy is tender, firm, and enduring. We can trust that God is our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. We can trust in His name, His character, and His being.

PARABLE: Identity matters. It brands us. It establishes how others see us. It determines how we see ourselves. In this world of identity theft, fake news, Photoshop, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, we can’t always trust that someone is who they say they are or who their image portrays them to be. 

Instead of assuming what we see is true, we must let people GAIN trust and find themselves trustworthy. They must go through a trust hierarchy. The first level of trust is deterrence-based trust.  It is based on rules and consequences that govern behavior. This rules-based trust is the basic level of trust. The next level of trust is knowledge-based trust. It is based on experiences that add up to prove that you have enough knowledge of the person’s behavior to have a good idea of how they will react and behave. The final level of trust is identity-based trust. This is the most intimate level of trust and is based on relationship, the understanding of loyalty, acceptance, and understanding. It is reserved for the most important people in our lives. It is where we can be transparent and vulnerable. 

Identity-based trust is the kind of trust we can have in God. We can confidently rely on God our Creator to make a way for us, our Defender–to defend us in the battle of life, our Redeemer–to give us His redeeming grace and turn around our mistakes, and our Friend–to be our constant friend. Like a frail soldier being brought in from the battlefield leaning on his mates with each arm counting on them to bring him to safety, we can be certain and rest on the arms of the Holy Spirit and lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus to carry us to God our Refuge where we are safe!

Soul care training exercise:  Some areas of life are easier to trust God than in others. God’s name is trust. Take a moment and turn your attention to seeking the loving Presence of God. Ponder the question What part of God’s character am I most confident in – Maker, Defender, Redeemer, or Friend? Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what God wants to say to you about how you most trust God’s identity within your life.

Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know.

• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to fully depend on God’s whole being with your whole being. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before.
• Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. Allow praise to form within you. Take a deep breath in and release a song unto the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, you are my Creator, my Defender, my Redeemer, and my Friend. Help me to trust your whole character with my whole being. Empower me to confidently rely on, confide in, trust in, secure my hope in, and lean into YOU.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to praise God for being a trustworthy Creator, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. Then take the mindfulness of God’s glorious glow in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Identity Matters appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

Psalm 104

Praise the Lord, my Soul
Lord my God, you are great;
The Lord wraps Himself in light as with a garment;
He stretches out the heavens like a tent and
lays the beams of His upper chambers on their waters.

God, our Creator you are magnificent. Your glorious might and grace are not something I can keep silent about. I must share the story of your glow.

PSALM: O Worship the King 1561
William Kethe (?-1594); Robert Grant (1779-1838)

O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light whose canopy space
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm

Grant’s writing was influenced by William Kethe’s paraphrase of Psalm 104 in the Anglo-Genevan Psalter. Psalm 104 begins with the invitation to Praise the Lord, my Soul. Both authors agreed the story of God’s mighty, marvelous, and gracious works should be shared.

PARABLE:  I sat on the hot sand with my great-nieces, scooping the sand with our hands and trying to count the morsels. The waves of the Atlantic Ocean turned the sand into a thick mud clay that we formed into a heart. The grains of sand are too many to count. The waves of the ocean are too mysterious to judge. The big waves that seem as though they are going to overtake you gently land at the foot of the sand statue. The small waves that appear as if they will stop before reaching the sand wash up past the shore. 

The light and warmth of the sun kisses our skin and darkens our melanin. Eventually, without warning, the warm waves wash away the sand statue and leave our bodies cloaked with sand that takes days to find and even longer to cleanse. Our tans, our glow, our smiles tell the story that we experienced something marvelous. There is no figuring out the wonders of the sand and sea. We realize that the sand is not there for us to count. The waves are not there for us to predict. Both are just marvelous works for us to enjoy and opportunities for us to create stories that we can share.

We marvel at the encounter. We recognize that the mighty SON, full of grace and love, has shown on us. We are reminded of His SON kisses when we see the canopy of stars by night and the light of the sun by day. When we hear the roar of thunder and feel the cleansing rain. When we hear the giggle of a child and see the tears of the parent. The residue of his loving mercy, compassion and grace leaves traces of His touch and a glow of His Presence that we can’t trace. Our glow, our joy tell the story that we experienced something marvelous. It prompts the response of praise! We have to share the story of His mighty works.

There is no figuring out the wonders of God’s love. Unending grace is not for us to count. God’s mighty acts are not for us to predict. All are just marvelous works of His hand and opportunities for us to share the story of His glow so that others too may praise His wondrous works! What story will you tell of God’s marvelous works? What song will you sing of His gracious love? 

Soul care training exercise:  Take a moment and turn your attention to seeking the loving Presence of God. Ponder the question What story can I share of God’s marvelous, mighty, and gracious acts? Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what God wants to say to you about the story of His mighty and marvelous acts and gracious love?

Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know.

• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to share the story of His mighty, marvelous, and gracious love. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before.
• Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. Allow praise to form within you. Take a deep breath in and release a song unto the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, you are the Great Creator. Help me to notice the glow of your glory and to share the story of your wondrous and mighty works and gracious love. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to praise God for a good ending. Then take the mindfulness of God’s glorious glow in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post This is how the story ends appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: Take five minutes to listen to the Share the Glory Story guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

²⁸ And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

Because God is the author and finisher of our narrative, we have the blessed assurance of how the story ends.

PSALM: Blessed Assurance 1873
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) 

This is my Story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Fanny Crosby’s story sang of trust in God. Even though she could not see the sparrow, she was certain that God watched over it. Even though she could not see the wandering sheep, she was certain that God would guide it back to safety. Even though she could not see with her physical eyes, her spiritual eyes could see beyond her circumstance and knew with certainty that God never stops working for our story to have a GOOD ending.

PARABLE:  

In the answer to our story, all of the above is true.

A. God, our Healer heals every concern of the mind, body, and soul for the Miracle Worker is working for our GOOD

B. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor gives us knowledge, wisdom, and understanding for every circumstance for the Way Maker is working for our GOOD

C. Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and Guide will be our Light in the Darkness for He is leading us to the truth that ALL things are working for our GOOD

D. All of the Above

Time after time, story after story, God’s promises ARE TRUE and He will always be faithful to make things work for your GOOD. The ending is the same every time. The story ends for your good, well, planned, and in a way that points to His love for you. This is the story of the believer. Even when darkness tries to overshadow the light, it must fail. This is how the story ends. Even when grief chases you from sun up to sundown, it will grow weary from being chased by God’s peace. This is how the story ends. Even when loneliness whispers in the midnight hour, it will be silenced by the Presence of God. This is how the story ends. Even in the transitional time between hope and despair, healing will transpire. This is how the story ends. 

Jesus is the narrator of our story. His death, burial, and resurrection confirmed that all things are working for our good. This is our story. 

So… when you find yourself waiting, like Crosby, invite your spiritual eyes to see the ending that shows His faithful, powerful, and gracious, glory. Bring your thoughts back to this reality and let your life tell the story. Even during frustrations, pain, and draining times, lean into the dominion of God and tell the story of patience, perseverance, peace, and the promise that it IS working for your good. Cry if you must then tell the story. Stomp if you must, then tell the story. Lament if you must, then tell the story. Skip to the end of the chapter, read the ending first. Offer a song of praise that the only option for your story ending is GOOD.

What is your story? What is your song? 

Soul care training exercise:  Take a moment and turn your attention to seeking the loving Presence of God. Ponder the question What is my story? Since you already know the ending, how will you tell the story? 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what God wants to say to you about your story.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know about your story.
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to share your story. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before.
• Finally, Focus on your breath. As you breathe in remember that the Holy Spirt, the Breath of Life, is breathing within you the fresh, pure, perfect love of God.

PRAYER: Jesus, you are the narrator of my story that ends with ALL things working for my good. Help me to trust the ending even when I can’t see it. Help me to share the GOOD ending with others. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to praise God for a good ending. Then take the mindfulness of God’s ending with you in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post This is how the story ends appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: Take five minutes to listen to the What is My Story guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.

The world’s “shoulds” will lead to destruction. God’s “shoulds” will lead to destiny. In Psalm 37:4, God issues a commanding truth. I hear God saying, “Delight yourself in Me, and I’ll meet your surrendered heart’s desires.” We find delight by surrendering to what God has planned for us. When we submit to satisfying the longings met only in God, we will find delight. When we delight in God’s eternal plan, our desires shift and we are fulfilled in Him. It is a formula. Perfect submission = Perfect delight.

PSALM: Blessed Assurance 1873
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) 

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Fanny Crosby was blinded at six weeks old by a Physician’s error. Yet, she could see visions of the rapture of God’s love. Her eyes manifested what her ears could hear. She experienced the fruition of God’s love in her life as she became known within the Methodist Church for her hymns. The sound of perfect submission and perfect delight reflected in her hymns came from her attunement to the blessed assurance that Jesus was for her. The assurance rang out through the echoes of God’s mercy and the whispers of His love.

PARABLE:  

When was the last time you held a newborn? Smelled the freshness of their skin. Looked into their innocent eyes and declared “You are perfect!” Even newborns, who are the closest to perfection are still not perfect. Perfection is something we cannot accomplish. Jesus already did the work. We only need to surrender to our perfect God. The striving for perfection is a trap that entangles us in the web of Who we should be, What we should be, and How we should be. Perfection “shoulds” on us. It cripples our ability and desire to delight in the progress of God’s purposed plan. Perfect submission is a process we can endure in Jesus.

When we apply the formula of perfect submission = perfect delight, our vision changes and we see visions of the rapture of God’s love. As we are caught up in the rapture -the intense pleasure and joy- of God’s heart, our heart begins to beat for God. Our fulfillment, our peace, our contentment are found in God. We seek to be with Him and when we are, we hear the echoes of His mercy and the whispers of His love. 

In 1986, Anita Baker released the song “Caught up in the Rapture.” The lyrics say “I’m caught up in the rapture of love.” She sings of believing in a love, a sweet love that calls out her name. She is captured in a love affair and sings of her lover being constantly on her mind and wanting to be in his arms. I understand this love.  To be caught up in the rapture of love means to be seized, snatched, lifted up in love. I yearn to be caught up in the rapture of Jesus’ love and long to be in His arms. When we surrender and find delight in God, we are raptured in His love. We are seized by His continuous mercy. Like, a newborn, we are lifted up to His chest to snuggle as He whispers His words of perfect love for imperfect us. This is the PERFECT place to be.

When is the last time you submitted to God? When was the last time you felt His delight? When was the last time you were caught up in the rapture of God’s love?

Soul care training exercise:  Take a moment and turn your attention to seeking the loving Presence of God. Ponder the question: How can you experience the rapture of God’s love? 

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you how God wants to statch you up in His love.
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention how you can experience His presence? Surrender? Find delight in Him?
• Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing that you need to know, hear, or do to hear His whispers of love. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never experienced in this way before.
• Finally, Focus on your breath. As you breathe in remember that the Holy Spirt, the Breath of Life, is breathing within you the fresh, pure, perfect love of God.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, blow upon me fresh, pure and perfect love. Catch me, snatch me, seize me with your love. Let me be caught up in the rapture of the sacrificial love of Jesus. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to experience the rapture of His love. Then take the mindfulness of God’s intellect activated within you in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Caught up in the rapture of love appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS REFLECTION: Take five minutes to listen to the Caught up in the rapture guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

⁸ Finally, ^[a]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

PSALM: Take my Life Frances Havergal (1836-1879)